Sarah Olney quoted as saying 'we want Rupa to win in Ealing'

A recording of senior figures in the Liberal Democrats discussing the General Election in which they urge co-operation with pro-Remain Labour candidates has been released by Sky News.

Sky are quoting both Vince Cable, who is standing in Twickenham, and Sarah Olney, who recently beat Zac Goldsmith to win the Richmond Park seat, as saying that support should specifically be given to Rupa Huq in her quest to retain the Ealing Central and Acton seat. The Green party have already stood down from contesting the seat.

Vince Cable and Sarah Olney

In the tape Vince Cable says that the current political system is ‘grotesque’ because a party can win the overwhelming majority of seats even though they only get a slight majority of votes citing the example of the domination of the SNP in Scotland after the last election. He is heard urging party workers to cooperate with Labour candidates who have supported continued membership of the EU during the campaign. He said that their supporters should be prepared to be tactical which might not mean standing down but just not campaigning in certain constituencies.

At a national level Tim Farron has ruled out working with ‘toxic’ Jeremy Corbyn and any possibility of forming a coalition Government with him.

Sky New quote Mr Cable as saying that it would be "difficult to vote against" Rupa Huq in Ealing Central and Acton even though Jon Ball is standing for the Liberal Democrats. Sarah Olney was more explicit in her comments reportedly saying "we want Rupa to win in Ealing."

The meeting took place last week after the end of the current Parliament because Sarah Olney is heard to say she can no longer be described as an MP but currently is just a candidate.

Rupa Huq said, “This is a significant development and I welcome the comment of Vince Cable who I respect enormously and got to know when we did a joint speaking engagement. In a tight race it’d be wrong to sacrifice a good independently minded pro-remain MP due to the personal vanity of the already twice-loser Lib Dem candidate standing to further his council bid in 2018. The Tory candidate is the only other one able to win and they’ve chosen a Brexit activist as their candidate who also supported the closure of local hospitals on Ealing council. The Greens have already stood down given my vulnerability and it’s important that anyone tempted by the Lib Dems for their Brexit stance realises the consequences of their actions. To remain with a remainer MP Huq is the only realistic option; any other action (including staying at home) would result in a Brexiteer representing a seat which was 72% remain.”

Rupa Huq is defending a majority of just 274 votes on 8 June.

Joy Morrissey, who has been chosen by the Conservatives as their candidate in Ealing Central and Acton, said: '' I'm surprised that Vince Cable would advise  Liberals to vote for Rupa Huq, one of Jeremy Corbyn's original supporters, in preference to Jon Ball, who has worked tirelessly for their cause year in year out.'' 

Liberal Democrat candidate, Jon Ball, said he didn't believe Labour would hold the seat and he was meeting many disenchanted residents: '' “I am knocking on doors with the Liberal Democrat team in Ealing Central & Acton, and we are finding former supporters of both old parties who are switching to us.

“We are fighting for every vote to hold back the Tories and their hard Brexit agenda. The Liberal Democrats are the best choice for voters who want to see a progressive opposition to a Conservative Government."

In 2010, Angie Bray won the newly created seat with a majority of 3,716, representing a swing from Labour to the Conservatives of 5%.

Result From May 2010

* Change is based on notional constituency assuming boundary changes applied in 2005

The full list of candidates standing will be available on Thursday 11th May

May 9, 2017