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Call for Remain parties to work together to ‘beat the Brexit Party’ at EU Election

21 May 2019 3 minute read
Nicola Sturgeon by Kenneth Halley (CC BY-SA 4.0), Adam Price by Daicaregos (CC BY-SA 3.0) Sian Berry and Jonathan Bartley by Kelly Hill (CC BY-SA 4.0) Vince Cable by Keith Edkins (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price has written to the leaders of pro-Remain parties, calling on them to agree voting recommendations ahead of Thursday’s European Parliament election.

There have been fears that, while the pro-Brexit vote has coalesced around the Brexit Party, the Remain vote has split between Plaid Cymru, the SNP, Greens, Liberal Democrats and Change UK.

Adam Price called on the party leaders to work together to agree guidance on how to maximise the ‘remain vote’, which they would publicly put to electors.

Wales Green Party candidate Ceri Davies said that it was a “very good move”.


“Exactly what should have been done two months ago, not two days before, but a nettle grasped at least,” he said.

Here are the Remain parties currently leading in the polls in each nation:

  • Wales – Plaid Cymru
  • England – Liberal Democrats
  • Northern Ireland – Sinn Fein
  • Scotland – SNP

In the letter, Mr Price also asks the leaders to agree a common statement acknowledging that votes for their respective parties are votes to remain and reform the EU.

Constructive

He wrote that “if all Remain supporters in Wales lend us their vote on Thursday we will comfortably beat the Brexit Party”.

“A YouGov Welsh Political Barometer poll, released yesterday, showed that Plaid Cymru is the strongest pro-EU party in Wales,” he said.

“Returning more pro-European MEPs to the European Parliament could dramatically change the political landscape for the critical months ahead.

“I suggest that we urgently agree a joint strategy to enhance the pro-European vote in these elections. Doing so could make a People’s Vote a reality, stop the march of the Brexit Party, and secure a positive European future for our nations.

“I hope we could agree a voting recommendation to put publicly to electors ahead of Thursday’s crucial election.

“At the very least it would be constructive if we could agree a common statement acknowledging that votes for our respective parties are votes to remain and reform the EU.

“It would be a powerful message to refer back to those attempting to interpret the results of the election as being an endorsement of a chaotic no-deal Brexit.

“We should seek to work together not just in these last few days before the election, but for as long as is needed to ensure that people who lend their vote to the strongest Remain parties feel truly represented – until a People’s Vote is delivered.”


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