News / Politics
Debbonaire: ‘You don’t get a Labour government by removing a Labour MP’
Following the local elections, Green councillors now hold every single seat in the wards that make up the new constituency of Bristol Central.
Despite the inexact science of extrapolating local election results onto general election predictions, the noticeable shift in political momentum has given Green campaigners even more cause for optimisim that sitting Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire can be beaten.
Some opinion polls are also predicting a win for Green co-leader Carla Denyer, with Bristol Central the party’s key target Westminster seat.
is needed now More than ever
Some polling has put Green Party leader Carla Denyer as favourite to win Bristol Central from Thangam Debbonaire – photo: Martin Booth
But in a recent interview with The House magazine, Debbonaire said that she is not concerned that Labour’s policies are not cutting through.
“I will never take voters for granted,” Debbonaire said. “The polls I’ve seen recently, I’ve been predicted to win by quite a lot.
However, I do not take polls as the indicator of future success. I take what I’m getting on the doorstep as an indicator of how voters actually feel.
“And I’m sure you’ve talked to voters in my patch, but you can’t possibly have talked to as many as I do.”
Debbonaire told The House: “People I talked to up and down Bristol West, and Bristol Central as it will be at the next general election, tell me they’re sick of the Tory government.
“They want a change and they know perfectly well, the only way they’re going to get a change of government is by having a Labour government and that you only get a Labour government by keeping Labour MPs and adding more.
“You don’t get a Labour government by removing one.”
Debbonaire added: “I think my grandmother’s looking down on me from her cloud and is very proud. That’s what my mum says.
“My family are really proud that I’m a Labour MP. Now, they want to see a Labour government.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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