FORMER Mayor of Warrington Geoff Settle has failed in his bid to stand for the new Change UK Party at the European Elections – if they take place!
But the former Labour councillor on Warrington Borough Council has pledged to campaign on behalf of the successful candidates
“In addition it means that I will remain focused on my charities and leisure activities,” said Geoff.
“It would have been an exciting opportunity and one that I would have relished and I wish everyone who has been selected best wishes and every success on May 23rd.”
In a letter from Rt Hon Anna Soubry MP for Broxtowe Geoff was told the party had been inundated with applicants.
She wrote: “We had over 3,500 applications for just 70 places and the quality of all the applications was extremely high. I’d like to thank the team who helped in our selection process – they have worked flat out reading and assessing every application. What was striking was the enthusiasm for the values and aims of Change UK TIG, the remarkable life stories and the passion for our remaining a member of the European Union.
“My plea is that you see your application as the first step to putting yourself forward again as a candidate for public office. For all we know a General Election could come at any time – it will certainly be called by 2022. Change UK TIG intends to field a candidates everywhere and I hope you will apply when we start the process of selecting parliamentary candidates.
“Now we are a political party we will begin to stand in local council elections (we were not able to stand in the Council elections in some parts of the country being held in early May). There will be elections next year for new Police and Crime Commissioners and more local Council elections including the London Assembly. In short there will be many more opportunities for you and I urge you to put your name forward when the time comes.
“We will also try to establish a series of policy working groups in the months ahead, and your skills and input will be very helpful in our efforts to develop ideas and reforms based on evidence rather than the ideological stances of the other main parties.
“In the meantime all our efforts will be targeted at the European Elections and in campaigning to get our candidates elected. We will launch our campaign in the next week and then our manifesto.
“There is a role for every one of our supporters in the campaign which we will be taking to every voter. Change UK TIG is the party of Remain we are unequivocal in our demand for a People’s Vote and in that event we campaign for our staying in the EU.
“We also believe that the EU must reform and our successful MEP’s will play an important part in bringing about the change the EU must face up to.
“We hope you can keep in touch and be part of the campaign.”
Former Mayor puts name forward to be MEP candidate for Change UK
