Zoe Franklin Re-selected As Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

Published on: 28 Aug, 2021
Updated on: 28 Aug, 2021

The Lib Dem’s re-selected party candidate for Guildford Zoe Franklin with her party leader Ed Davey. Photo Guildford Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have re-selected local campaigner, Zöe Franklin, to be the prospective parliamentary candidate for Guildford.

According to her party, Ms Franklin becomes the first “Blue Wall” general election candidate in the country to be selected in a constituency they are describing as an “ultra-marginal”.

The former borough councillor has pledged to be an active MP who really listens and acts on local people’s concerns. She stood as the Lib Dem candidate in the previous two general elections further increasing the party’s vote share by 15 per cent in 2019, reducing the Conservative majority to just six per cent.

Guildford General Election result 2019 – Wikipedia

Guildford’s 2017 general election result

That general election was held in the wake of Anne Milton’s surprising departure from The Conservative party over their handling of Brexit. Many thought that with many local Conservatives and others disillusioned over Brexit, the Lib Dems had a good opportunity to take regain the seat they lost in 2005. But Ms Milton’s decision to stand as an Independent, taking 4,356 votes, seemed critical.

Zöe Franklin has lived in Guildford for over 20 years, first moving to the town to study at the University of Surrey, and has been a local governor and charity trustee. She stood for the Liberal Democrats in the last election where she increased the party’s vote share by 15% and slashed.

Ahead of the next general election, the top campaign priorities for the prospective Lib Dem candidate will be she says:

• fighting the Conservative’s damaging planning reforms that threaten Guildford, Cranleigh and our villages with even more inappropriate developer-led schemes lacking in the homes we need locally and proper infrastructure;
• working with local people and our councillors for a greener, more sustainable future for our communities including better public transport and more electric vehicle charging points so people can realistically choose to go green;
• campaigning to support local businesses who have been left behind by the government and need extra support to survive

Welcoming the selection Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey MP, said: “Zöe will be a fantastic local candidate who is committed to listening and helping the people of Guildford.

“The Conservatives have taken Guildford for granted. In Blue Wall areas just like Surrey, people feel ignored by a Conservative party which is out of touch with their values and priorities.

“In Boris Johnson, they see a Prime Minister who has failed to show any signs of leadership to get this country through a national crisis. From his botched handling of the pandemic to the shame of needing Marcus Rashford to pressure him into providing free school meals for hungry children. It is no wonder voters in the Blue Wall are turning their back on this government.”

Zöe Franklin said: “I am delighted to have been reselected as the parliamentary candidate for Guildford, Cranleigh and our villages. Guildford has been my home for over 20 years and I am determined to be the local champion our local communities need.

“I will make standing up for local people on the issues that matter to them my top campaign priority.”

“When I’m out and about people tell me they are sick of being taken for granted and failed by the Conservatives – that they just can’t trust them to do the best for them, their families and businesses. In contrast, they see what the Lib Dems are doing on local councils and know they will not only listen to them, but actually deliver to make our area a better place to live.

“There is no doubt how badly the Foreign Secretary’s actions have gone down in our area, as well as other Conservative MPs rushing to his defence.”

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