Former Conservative Antoinette Sandbach joins the Lib Dems
1 November 2019, 05:12
MP Antoinette Sandbach, who was expelled from the Tory party last month, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
The MP from Cheshire was among 21 rebels who lost the Conservative whip after rebelling against Boris Johnson in a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
The move makes her the eighth addition to the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party in the last few months.
As the country counts down to polling day Ms Sandbach announced her decision to join the Remain supporting party.
Ms Sandbach said: "The Conservative party offers years of uncertainty, whilst the Liberal Democrats will stop Brexit.
"I will stand on my strong local record, helping to secure local investment, fighting for fair funding for our schools and to secure additional funding in local health services.
“Our country deserves so much better than Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn. I can’t wait to get to work, win this election and then deliver for my constituents and our country.”
She'll contest her Cheshire seat of Eddisbury as the Lib Dem candidate in the December 12th election.
Elected to the seat in 2015 as a Conservative, Ms Sandbach had a majority of 11,942, while the Lib Dem candidate came third, leading some political commentators to say it could be hard for her to keep the seat with the Liberal Democrats.
NEW: @Sandbach joins the Lib Dem’s. Fifth former Tory to join LDs and will contest her Eddisbury seat as a LD. She had a 12k majority as a Conservative so very tough call to keep it as a LD. On @skynews now
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) October 31, 2019
When Ms Sandbach lost a confidence vote among her local Conservative association she said: "It most likely means that I am not going to be the Conservative candidate in the next election".
Jo Swinson said the former Conservatives defection shows the Lib Dems are the "strongest party of Remain.
Mrs Swinson said: "I am delighted to welcome Antoinette to the Liberal Democrats. She is a passionate campaigner, and will be a fantastic candidate at the General Election and a great addition to our party. Her defection clearly shows that the Liberal Democrats are the strongest party of Remain and attracting support from right across the political spectrum.
"Antoinette is one of the millions of people who are tired of the two old parties, led by people who will take our country backwards, not forwards. It is only the Liberal Democrats that will stop Brexit and build the brighter future that our country deserves."
