Southport LibDem exploitation and hypocrisy

24th April 2018

The Southport LibDems have just chosen a Croston man to stand as their potential MP in the next election. Former teacher and college Principal, John Wright aims to win back  Southport from the Conservatives at the next general election.

https://www.otsnews.co.uk/southport-liberal-democrats-select-parliamentary-candidate-aims-win-back-seat/

John Wright, is stated to be a “familiar face in Southport” claiming to have campaigned here with the Liberal Democrats for many years. However, many locals are saying they have never heard of him as a campaigner doing anything for the town.

Last year the Southport LibDems self-admitted sought to “exploit” the local issue against both Labour and Tory (out of town) candidates.

While writing about the last failed LibDem campaign, ex Southport MP John Pugh stated:

“The pace was unrelenting; the output impressive. Neither the Labour nor the Tory candidate lived in Southport- a fact we sought to exploit.” Source: How we lost Southport, Liberal Democratic Voice, John Pugh, Mon 12th June 2017 – 12:13 pm.

https://www.libdemvoice.org/how-we-lost-southport-54590.html

So, the LibDems sought to “exploit” the last election with their local candidate, yet now they have picked a candidate from out of town? Does the term ‘double standards’ perhaps apply here?

As Southport residents now of course know, Sue Maguire, the ‘local’ LibDem candidate, was well and truly thrashed in the previous election, coming a gut-wrenching third behind current MP Tory Damien Moore and Labour’s candidate Liz Savage.

Following her devastating defeat, Sue Maguire  has since announced her departure from Southport politics.

https://www.otsnews.co.uk/much-loved-southport-mp-candidate-step/

It would seem then that exploitation is not always a prudent move in local politics.

Although no longer an MP, John Pugh is now a councillor for the Dukes ward of Sefton Borough Council.