Labour suppress democracy in Sunderland.
The UK Independence Party has accused Labour in Sunderland of suppressing
democracy after a Labour candidate’s appeal to the Vice Chancellor of Sunderland
University resulted in the organisers’ decision being
overturned.
The local UK Independence Party candidate was unable to attend the debate
because he had to look after his ill wife following a serious relapse in her
chronic condition.
The event organisers were therefore informed that Jonathan Arnott MEP
would attend in his place and speak at the debate. But on arrival Mr Arnott was
informed that the Labour Party refused to debate him.
UKIP therefore provided a statement to the organisers of the debate to be
read out so that students would understand the reason why the party was not the
percentage.
However, after the organisers agreed to this, the Labour team contacted
the Vice Chancellor of the University and was successful in ensuring that any
statement would be suppressed.
UKIP’s representative Jonathan Arnott said “All of the other candidates
were happy to debate me. The Conservative candidate even passed on his best
wishes for a speedy recovery for Mrs. Forster. But Labour insisted that the
event must be stage-managed to such an extent that the audience would not be
allowed to know why a UKIP candidate was not present.
“I rearranged my diary at very short notice in the interests of
democracy. Sadly, for Labour politics is all about spin not substance and stage
management not genuine debate. By contacting the Vice Chancellor they show
their contempt for democracy. This shows just how terrified Labour is about
UKIP in the north of England.”
