The Green Party’s candidate for Emmbrook has declined to stand, instead encouraging his supporters to vote tactically against the Conservatives.
He is also calling on other local parties to work together over the next three years to see the Conservatives lose their majority of Wokingham Borough Council (WBC).
Dave Worley said that he will spend this by-election supporting the Liberal Democrat candidate and has asked the Wokingham Labour Party to withdraw its candidate as well.
He argues that with the ward being on an electoral knife-edge, by not standing, voters could elect Imogen Shepherd-DuBey for the Lib Dems instead of Kevin Morgan for the Conservatives.
In last year’s borough council elections, Mrs Shepherd-DuBey came within 13 votes of stealing the seat from the Conservative candidate UllaKarin Clark.
And a town council election held last year after the ill-health of the sitting Conservative candidate forced a re-run of the seat saw Liberal Democrat Helen Belcher come within 21 votes of winning the seat from Cllr Sanjay Odedra.
Stressing he was speaking in a personal capacity, Mr Worley told The Wokingham Paper: “According to Cllr Gary Cowan, Wokingham Borough Council is run in secrecy by the Tories, hence he’s left them. They ignore us on issues like Elms Field, and need a shake-up.
“I’m not standing in the Emmbrook by-election for the Greens. I am supporting Imogen for the Lib Dems.
“As well as supporting her in this election, I ask the Wokingham Labour Party to withhold their candidate for this by-election to ensure Imogen’s victory. We can slowly chip away at the Tory majority if we put aside our petty differences and vote tactically over the next three years.”
Mr Worley has also written an open letter to Emmbrook voters, which we print on page 17 of the January 26 edition. It can also be read on his blog.
