General election 2019: Liberal Democrats, Greens and Plaid Cymru agree pact
7 November 2019
The Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party have formed an electoral pact, agreeing not to stand against each other in dozens of seats. The deal between the three anti-Brexit parties will cover 60 constituencies across England and Wales. Chair of the Unite to Remain group Heidi Allen said it was "an opportunity to tip the balance of power". The three parties all support another Brexit referendum and want the UK to remain in the EU. Their pact means that, in Wales, two of the parties will agree not to field a candidate, boosting the third candidate's chances of picking up the Remain vote. In England, it will simply be a two-way agreement between the Lib Dems and the Greens. Lib Dem candidate Layla Moran said the Unite to Remain group had approached Labour about pacts, but "they said no [and] they didn't even enter into those conversations". In a speech in Liverpool earlier, Labour's shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said: "We will never enter pacts, coalitions, or deals like that - ever." And the SNP's Stephen Gethins said: "If other parties want to deliver a Remain message in Scotland, they know they have to get behind the SNP." Thursday marks exactly five weeks until the UK general election on 12 December. "We are delighted that an agreement has been reached," said Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson. "This is a significant moment for all people who want to support Remain candidates across the country." The pact follows a similar deal earlier this year in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, when Plaid Cymru and the Greens agreed not to put forward a candidate but instead gave way to the Lib Dems' Jane Dodds. She went on to defeat the Conservative incumbent, Chris Davies. Analysis by BBC political analyst Peter Barnes It's impossible to know in advance whether this will affect who wins any of the constituencies. None of them would have had a different result in 2017 if Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru and Green votes had been added together. It's also likely that Brexit will have a bigger influence on how people vote at this election, so the idea of having a united candidate for Remain could give them a boost. There are some seats already held by one of the parties where their majorities will be bolstered, such as Arfon and Bath. And there are other places where it makes it a bit easier to win, such as Cheltenham, Montgomeryshire and Winchester - all places the Lib Dems are gunning for - and Ynys Mon, a target for Plaid. In England, the Greens will stand aside for the Lib Dems in 40 seats including Totnes, York Outer, Winchester and Twickenham. And the Green Party will run unchallenged by the Lib Dems in nine seats including the Isle of Wight, Bristol West, Exeter and Brighton Pavilion - where Caroline Lucas is the Greens' only MP. The pact comes after Plaid Cymru's leader Adam Price wrote to several pro-Remain parties earlier this year, calling on them to work together in a snap general election. In Wales, the plan will involve the Lib Dems and Greens standing their candidates aside for Plaid Cymru in seven seats including Pontypridd. The deal does not involve the Ceredigion seat - which is currently held by Plaid Cymru but is a top election target for the Lib Dems. However Mike Powell, who had been the Lib Dem candidate in Pontypridd, said he would run as an independent against Plaid Cymru. He told Radio 4's World at One: "I think the people deserve to have an opportunity to vote for someone who is going to represent the people of Pontypridd, rather than standing to represent a cause to remove Wales from the United Kingdom. "I know there is an awful lot of members in the Welsh Liberal Democrats who are extremely unhappy with the way these negotiations have been dealt with." The prospective parliamentary candidates for Pontypridd chosen by their parties so far include Alex Davies-Jones (Labour), Steve Bayliss (the Brexit Party) and Fflur Elin (Plaid Cymru). In Northern Ireland the Green Party has said it will not stand candidates in East, West or North Belfast. Green Party NI leader Clare Bailey said she was "prepared to put the need to have pro-Remain MPs returned ahead of party interest". Sinn Fein leader Michelle O'Neill welcomed the move, which she said would maximise "the representation of pro-Remain and progressive candidates facing down DUP Brexiteers across Belfast". Last week, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage called on Boris Johnson to form a similar election pact. He wanted the PM to drop his Brexit deal and then agree to stand aside candidates for each other. Mr Johnson rejected the offer and said he would not enter election pacts.
Analysis by BBC political analyst Peter Barnes It's impossible to know in advance whether this will affect who wins any of the constituencies. None of them would have had a different result in 2017 if Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru and Green votes had been added together. It's also likely that Brexit will have a bigger influence on how people vote at this election, so the idea of having a united candidate for Remain could give them a boost. There are some seats already held by one of the parties where their majorities will be bolstered, such as Arfon and Bath. And there are other places where it makes it a bit easier to win, such as Cheltenham, Montgomeryshire and Winchester - all places the Lib Dems are gunning for - and Ynys Mon, a target for Plaid.
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Will the Remain agreement make a difference?