#ELLGE2019 Brexit Party candidate moved to Croydon Central after Farage pledge

Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party will not contest Conservative seats from 2017 election.
Pic: Gage Skidmore

The Brexit Party parliamentary candidate for Croydon South has been relocated to Croydon Central, following Nigel Farage’s pledge not to contest Conservative seats.

This morning, Peter Sonnex was named the Brexit Party PPC for Croydon Central. The constituency is currently held by Labour’s Sarah Jones, who has been incumbent since 2017.

Sonnex was originally a Brexit Party PPC for Croydon South, but was stood down yesterday to prevent him from taking votes from Conservative candidate Chris Philip.

Nigel Farage announced yesterday that Brexit Party PPC’s would not be running in any of the 317 constituencies held by the Conservative Party.

Sonnex tweeted yesterday: “I said I would put country before party before self. I stand by that.”

“You will be disappointed that there is no alternative to a Conservative Brexit vote.”

This morning’s announcement comes amidst frustration from Nigel Farage, who has called on Conservatives to stand down in Labour safe seats.

Speaking to Eastlondonlines Sonnex said: “My role in Croydon South was to be marginalised by the Tories.”

“My role in Croydon Central is to change politics for good.”

Farage said to the BBC this morning: “I believe in Leave. If they [the Conservatives] believed in Leave, what they would do is stand aside in some seats in Labour areas where the Conservative party have not won for a hundred years.”

In the 2017 general election Labour won Croydon Central from the Conservatives with just 52.3 per cent of the vote. In 2015 the Conservative Party won by just a 0.3 per cent margin.

Earlier today, Sonnex challenged the Conservative PPC for Croydon Central, Mario Creatura, calling on him to “put country before party” by not contesting the seat.

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