Lib Dem MP who quit party to back Brexit will now campaign for Remain at general election
2 min read
An MP who quit the Liberal Democrats to back Brexit has revealed he will now campaign “full-throatedly” for Remain at the upcoming election.
Stephen Lloyd resigned the party whip in December so he could vote for Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement from the EU, saying it was the right thing to do for his constituents.
He is the member for Eastbourne in East Sussex, which backed Leave by 57% in the 2016 referendum - higher than the national average of 52%.
Mr Lloyd went on to vote for the Government’s Brexit deal four times, most recently backing Boris Johnson’s new deal at second reading earlier this month.
But after the Prime Minister passed legislation scheduling a snap General Election on 12 December, he said the “slate is clean”.
A Lib Dem source said he has not yet been offered the party whip back, but confirmed to PoliticsHome there was an "ongoing conversation".
And they have not selected a new candidate for Eastbourne, leaving open the possibility Mr Lloyd could still stand for them in December.
The MP made his announcement via a video on social media, explaining: “Whatever my personal views as a Remainer, I’ve kept my word to you, to Eastbourne, about accepting the result of the referendum.
“Which means that I’ve backed the UK-EU withdrawal bill actually four times, three times under Theresa May and only a couple of weeks ago on what’s called the second reading, a fourth time under Boris Johnson.
“Not because I agree with it but because I profoundly believe that if a promise is made by politician they should keep it.
“People are fed up with politicians breaking their word and I wasn’t going to because of Eastbourne.”
He added: “However, there’s a new general election and people understand when there’s a new election it cleans the slate.
“I’ve kept my word folks, I’ve voted for it four times, but with a new general election the slate is clean and so what I’m telling you with integrity and honesty is that I am a Remainer.
“I’ve kept my word, but with a new election, the slate is clean a new Parliament, I’m going to be backing remain full-throatedly.”
He first won the Tory-Lib Dem marginal seat in 2010, but lost it in 2015 only to win it back two years later with a majority of just 1,609.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
