Greens and Lib Dems Announce Electoral Pact
Not competing against each other in Chiswick Gunnersbury and Brentford West
The parties say the move is down to a flawed electoral process
The Green Party and the Liberal Democrats have announced that they have reached an agreement on a mini-electoral pact in the borough of Hounslow.
They are not fielding candidates against each other in two wards in the borough – Chiswick Gunnersbury and Brentford West. The Liberal Democrats have selected Helen Cross, Will Francis and Johanna Guppy to contest Chiswick Gunnersbury whereas Stephen Clark and Tony Firkins will contest the two seat Brentford West Ward.
A statement issued by the two parties says, “The deeply flawed first past the post voting system used in the local elections in Hounslow favours the two largest political parties and penalises alternative parties, Hounslow Liberal Democrats and Hounslow Greens have agreed to stand aside in two
wards in May’s local elections.
“Both parties believe that this is the best way to break through the two-party monopoly which first past the post inflicts on Hounslow. Both parties agree that Hounslow Council is less representative, and its decision-making is poorer, for not having the benefit of Liberal Democrat and Green voices in the Council Chamber.
“However, this agreement in Brentford and Chiswick does not imply support for each other’s policies locally or nationally.
Both parties would like to thank all those who voted for them in the past in these wards and hope that their supporters in Gunnersbury and Brentford West will understand that the constraints of the electoral system have forced a difficult choice to get more diverse voices on Hounslow Council. Both parties will continue to fight hard to change the outdated electoral system.”
There currently are 50 councillors who were elected as representing Labour and 10 Conservatives.
The election takes place on 5 May and a full list of those standing can be found here.
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April 8, 2022