General Election: Greens standing aside in Chingford and Woodford Green

10 November 2019

Waltham Forest & Redbridge Green Party have confirmed today that they aim to help unseat Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith by tactically withdrawing their candidate from the upcoming general election in Chingford and Woodford Green. (1)

The tactic employed by the Green Party will mean that the number of opposition candidates to Iain Duncan Smith will be reduced, with the ultimate hope of favouring the campaign of the Labour candidate.

"We have thought carefully about where to stand in Waltham Forest and Redbridge, knowing that every Green vote in Chingford and Woodford Green would be a vote for a greener and fairer world”, said Andrew Johns, Local Party Co-ordinator and the Green Party candidate for Walthamstow.

"Iain Duncan Smith has demonstrated through his horrendous record on welfare that he does not care for people who are struggling to make ends meet. He also disregards the seriousness of the climate emergency, having repeatedly voted in Parliament against measures to reduce carbon emissions". (2)

"Any decision that can lead to him being unseated is one that will mean we are a step closer to that greener and fairer world."

In the 2017 election, the Green Party secured 1,204 votes in Chingford and Woodford Green, with the Conservative majority drastically reduced from 8,386 to 2,438 votes. The absence of a Green Party candidate on the ballot will increase the possibility of a Labour victory for Chingford local Faiza Shaheen.

"While there are still some differences of opinion between the Greens and Labour on environmental targets, Faiza is an advocate of a more progressive politics and has agreed to work with local Green Party members in our fight against airport expansions and for ambitiously reducing carbon emissions," said Mr.Johns.

The local party strategy follows the Green Party decision to embrace Unite to Remain across England and Wales, which will ensure the Remain vote is most effectively represented in the new Parliament.

The Green Party will run in other Waltham Forest and Redbridge constituencies, campaigning for a greener and fairer society, including the introduction of Proportional Representation. (3)

The local party will be encouraging members to campaign in Green Party target seats, e.g. Bristol West.

In the last election, the Green Party gained 1 MP from 525,655 votes across the UK, whilst the SNP secured 35 MPs with just under twice that number.

Notes for Editors

1) John Tyne, the Green Party candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green, said: "The Green Party has long believed the most vulnerable members of society need to be protected. The actions of IDS as the architect of the failed rollout of Universal Credit mean that we believe he is unfit for office. The party believes that its withdrawal from this election offers the best chance for voters to register a concerted vote against him and his failed policy."

2) https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10180/iain_duncan_smith/chingford_and_woodford_green/divisions?policy=1030

3) https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/voting-systems/what-are-voting-systems/proportional-representation/ - In the last election the Green Party gained 1 MP from 525,655 votes across the UK, whilst the SNP secured 35 MPs with just under twice that number.



