28 Jan 2024
They may not have selected a candidate yet, but that hasn’t stopped the local Labour Party from outlining its vision for fighting to with the new constituency of Harpenden and Berkhamsted.
Symon Vegro, recently elected as chair of the new branch of the party, said he believes that Labour can win the seat in the next General Election.
He explained: “The latest YouGov poll shows Labour increasing their lead over the Lib Dems by a further percent – Labour are on 47 per cent and Liberal Democrats are on 8 per cent.
“Looking at the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, Lib Dems are estimated to be on 28 per cent and Labour on 20 per cent – while a private poll In December shows Labour would win the new constituency by 4,000 votes with the Conservatives and Lib Dems neck and next in second place.
“With a likely reduction in the Conservative vote in the new constituency, I believe that the Lib Dems and Labour will both be competing to win the seat. There is no reason to consider tactical voting in this constituency, so I urge voters to vote for whoever they believe will deliver change for this country.”
Symon confirmed that Labour’s candidate selection process for the upcoming General Election is now underway: “We have some excellent candidates who presented at a recent all-members meeting and we are moving forward to a shortlist and hope to announce our candidate in the next few weeks.”
Symon accused the Lib Dems of misinformation in their campaign literature: “The Lib Dems have been spending thousands of pounds on leaflets, mock newspapers, posters, and professional campaign organisers, flooding the constituency with incorrect material claiming that Labour has admitted they cannot win. This is deeply disingenuous – in fact, an outright lie!
“We have an excellent chance of winning, as polling suggests. I know why they are doing it – their only chance of winning is to trick voters into voting Lib Dem.
“I want to make it clear that voters have another choice; Labour is offering a positive vision of Britain’s future with a plan that tackles the cost of living crisis, rebuilds our public services, and restores trust in our democratic institutions.”
Symon believes the Lib Dems have serious questions to answer for their role in partnership with the Tories in 2010 which brought in disastrous austerity policies – from which the country is still suffering – and reneging on their key campaign promises; their role in the ongoing Post Office scandal; and the planning chaos at the local government level in St Albans.
He added: “I am disappointed with the way that the other major parties have started their campaigns, even though an election may not be for another year. Voters I speak to do not feel they are better off after 14 years of Conservative misrule (with the active help of the Lib Dems) and they fear that things will get even worse if there is not a change of government.
“They are deeply concerned by the country’s steady descent into a rogue state with attacks on the judiciary, local government, the international law, our European trading partners, the BBC, the arts, you name it – not to mention wrecking the economy!
“The country is in a much worse state after 14 years of Tory government – with the help of the Lib Dems – I can’t think of a single thing that is better. Labour is offering voters in Harpenden and Berkhamsted the chance to vote for real change and a return to decency, fairness, and fiscal responsibility. At the next election voters face a simple choice: another five years of decline under the Conservatives, or the opportunity to build a better Britain with Labour.”
