The pro-EU parties’ failure to agree a joint by-election candidate could be a sign of things to come
Politics Explained: By not working together in Peterborough, progressives are playing into Labour’s hands
Pro-EU parties including the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Change UK had hoped to unite to form an alliance for next month’s by-election in Peterborough, knowing that they would split the Remain vote if they all put up candidates.
The attempt failed, though, when the candidate they had agreed to back, young pro-referendum campaigner Femi Oluwole, pulled out at the last minute.
Change UK blamed the fiasco on senior Labour-supporting figures in the People’s Vote campaign, suggesting they had put pressure on Mr Oluwole to withdraw or risk costing Labour votes.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies