Tory splits erupt once again as MP hails ‘fantastic’ Brexit Party candidates
2 min read
Deep Tory splits have been exposed once again after one of their MPs described the Brexit Party candidates for next month's European Parliament elections as "fantastic".
Backbencher Lucy Allen heaped praise on her own party's supposed rivals as they announced who would be standing for them should the poll go ahead on 23 May.
Television pundit and former Revolutionary Communist Party member Claire Fox announced she would be standing for the Brexit Party, alongside ex-soldier James Glancy, charity boss Matthew Patten, former nurse Christina Jordan and salmon exporter Lance Forman.
Sharing a list of the latest additions to former Ukip leader Nigel Farage's party on Twitter, Telford MP Ms Allen said the group contained "some fantastic candidates".
Speaking to PoliticsHome, Ms Allan defended the comment, saying party loyalties would be “eclipsed” by the Brexit issue at the ballot box.
“If EU elections are held, Leave supporting voters will want to vote for Leave supporting candidates," she said. "Usual party loyalties will be eclipsed by the Leave v Remain divide. It’s good to see strong candidates in the Leave camp.
“However, I sincerely hope we leave the EU before these elections are held so that we can move on and not waste time and money on unnecessary EU elections.”
Speaking at a press conference this morning, Ms Fox said her party would benefit from an influx of Leave voters who would boycott traditional party allegiances after being “smeared and insulted”.
“I’ve spent my life fighting for left-wing causes, so I can tell you no one is more surprised than me to be standing as a candidate for Nigel Farage’s Brexit party,” she said.
“To be honest, Nigel and I are unlikely to agree on a range of issues… but on the key question of implementing Brexit, no ifs, no buts, on the crucial issue of honouring democracy, Nigel and I agree wholeheartedly."
Meanwhile, Mr Farage said the 23 May elections would be “just the beginning” for his new party.
“We have a two party system and those parties now serve nothing frankly but themselves," he said.
“The system isn’t working, Parliament doesn’t represent the view of this country and we are being ambitious, more ambitious than I’ve ever been in the past.
“I did say a few years ago that I would do my best to cause an earthquake in British politics and I think given the current aftershocks I had some success with that agenda.
"But this is far more upbeat, far more optimistic and far more ambitious. This is about changing politics for good, changing the shape of our political parties."
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