News / Politics
Reform UK announce candidate for Kingswood by-election
A former football chairman and staunch Brexiteer has thrown his hat into the ring in the sudden Kingswood by-election.
Rupert Lowe revealed on Tuesday he would be standing as the Reform UK candidate, saying it follows “overwhelming local demand” and “sends Westminster a strong message”.
Oxford-born Lowe served as the Brexit Party’s Member of European Parliament for the West Midlands and is the former chairman of Southampton Football Club.
is needed now More than ever
The South Gloucester seat is up for grabs after Conservative MP Cris Skidmore quit the role after 14 years in protest over the party’s energy plans.
Announcing the news on LinkedIn, Lowe said: “I’m delighted to announce that I am the Reform Party prospective candidate in the upcoming Kingswood by-election.
“Following overwhelming local demand, Reform has decided to put a candidate up and let the constituency send Westminster a strong message.
“Let’s Save Britain.”
On X on Wednesday morning, he added: “Kingswood can use this election to send our rotten establishment a clear message.
“If constituents aren’t happy with how Britain is being governed, if they want change – then they can use my candidacy as the ultimate protest vote.
“Put country before party, vote @reformparty_uk.”
The new constituency of Bristol North East will swallow part of what is now Kingswood – image: Boundary Commission
The Kingswood constituency is being abolished following a boundary review, with voters set to find themselves in different constituencies come the next general election. This means the job of being an MP there could be for a matter of months.
The seat had a Tory majority of 11,220 in the 2019 general election and had previously been held by Labour from 1992 to 2010.
Councillor for Parkwall & Warmley and leader of the Conservative group on South Glos Council Sam Bromiley will be defending the seat for the Tories when the by-election takes place on February 15.
Former Lewisham mayor Damien Egan is standing for Labour, with Greens voting between Lorraine Francis and Siвn Harris on Wednesday for their candidate. The Liberal Democrats are yet to reveal their challenger.
Main photo: Rupert Lowe
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