Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats and Greens strike electoral pact for General Election
Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and Green Party have come to what they call a “historic agreement” to elect more pro-Remain MPs from Wales.
The full extent of the deal will be announced tomorrow (Thursday) but it is expected that the Liberal Democrats will step aside for Plaid Cymru in Arfon, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, and Dwyfor Meirionydd.
Plaid Cymru are expected to announce that they will step aside in Cardiff Central, Brecon and Radnorshire, and Montgomeryshire.
Five other unspecified seats are also expected to be part of the deal.
The alliance between the Liberal Democrats and Greens also covers 49 seats in England.
‘Opporunity’
“Tonight we can confirm that we in Plaid Cymru, together with the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, have reached an historic agreement in this December’s general election,” a Plaid Cymru spokesperson said.
“Our discussions with the other parties have been ongoing for some months, and a lot of hard work has gone into securing an arrangement that offers Wales the opportunity to elect a large number of MPs from pro-Remain parties.
“This is the right thing to do in the national interest. In the face of Brexit, we – as Wales’ lead Remain party – must show sensible and mature leadership which puts Wales first. That’s what this arrangement represents.
“This election is different to others, and the stakes have never been higher for the future of Wales.
“By reaching this agreement, we are maximising the possibility of electing more pro-Remain MPs from Wales to keep up the fight against Brexit, and to keep Wales in the EU.
“This election also offers us the best opportunity we’ve ever had to elect the largest number of Plaid Cymru MPs in our party’s history to stand up to Westminster establishment – and put Wales first.
“Because that’s what Plaid Cymru always does. Our country, our communities, and the best interests of our nation are always our first and foremost priority.”
Peter Dunphy, the former Lib Dem treasurer who is a director of Unite to Remain, told the Guardian newspaper that Brecon and Radnorshire had been a successful test-case of the approach.
“People want to back a winner, people want to back a contender,” he said.
He conceded that in some cases the remain alliance would be fielding candidates against sitting Labour MPs, but said the group’s main aim was to reduce the number of Brexit-backing MPs in parliament, most of whom were Conservatives.
“What we have sought to do is focus on the bigger picture,” he said.
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Essential approach to the election. It will expedite a system that better represents the views and aspirations of the people through beating FTTP. For once some parties are not putting tribal flag before outcome.
Remember it took half of earth’s history for single cells to get the idea of working together to form multicellular life, the results were an incredible flowering.
A Plaid-LibDem arrangement can give both more seats, but where does the Green party fit in ? They wanted Cdf South and Penarth, but Plaid locally objected that they’d polled much higher than the Greens’ 1200 vote. then the VoG constituency was offered to the Greens (who polled only 400) though Plaid is well organised with an experienced and locally-known candidate. Perhaps Plaid is sacrificing the VoG in order to get its members to vote down Alun Cairns – by voting Labour, – without saying so openly. For the Greens are the worst placed party for maximising the ‘Remain’ vote,… Read more »
, plaid actually loses one… Ceredigion is going lib dems according to betting odds. Lib dems arent thick
Where are the odds. Given the remarkably high level of admiration and support for the local campaigning work that Ben Lake has done I’d be surprised to see the Lib Dems take Ceredigion. But if you could point me to the odds – I’ll certainly be happy to venture a few pounds if indeed the Lib Dems are the bookies ‘favourites’
Great deal for lib dems……. can take Ceredigion from plaid Cymru while not sacrificing anything. Good news for them in traditional liberal heartlands because Plaid Cymru wont campaign and pick up recruits and new converts. A great base for a lib dem revival! Plaid Cymru will need to hope the rapidly changing and aging social face of West wales can produce enough welsh speaking kids who still feel some sympathy for Welsh national cause. Plaid Cymru wont be able to outdo the pro european message of lib dems or the economic justice message of Labour… they are fighting four parties… Read more »
Lib dems not contending in Arfon might help llafur/ labour take seat from plaid cymru…. I know a few lib dems there I knew at uni who are certainly not in favour of soft left welsh nationalism lol! Tactical voting by unionists?
Lib Dems not making any sacrifices here! May be if they stood aside in the Conwy constituency it would be a fairer playing field for Plaid to take this seat from the conservatives.
To be fair though, PC aren’t really making any sacrifices either. Of all the constituencies in which they’re standing down the max PC vote share was about 5.5% in the last election. And this is coming from an ardent supporter
Oh dear. Plaid Cymru form a pact with the pro austerity, independence hating Lib Dems (see article on Independence on NW yesterday). A pact which leaves the excellent Ben Lake in a tough fight to keep his seat and which might well hand Arfon to Labour on a plate. In return the Lib Dems risk what exactly ? Even if its a roaring success on its own terms and returns a handful more Remain supporting MP’s to the British Parliament the overall impact of that will be negligible without Labour support. Plaid Cymru have once again demonstrated their total unwillingness… Read more »
intelligent points all, no nasty debate, welcome to Wales of Welsh \Nation. the bigger point is that parties can burst their bubbles to make common cause for a greater good as they see it. That is itself a powerful step forward, a small game changer. Da \iawn Plaid wthout whom this would not be happening. I sense Adam leadership here. Agree with the real concerns expressed in the discussion.
The biggest risk is arfon… but depends on lib dem voting profile
The Liberal democrats must make it clear that they support the Plaid Cymru candidate.
I also hope that their activists in those constituencies come and support Plaid Cymru as I am sure that PC will support LD in the seats that PC stand aside as in Brecon & Radnor.
Also I hope that the deal could also apply to the Pembroke constituencies.