Plymouth Lib Dem candidate denies he is pulling out of General Election

Graham Reed says his name will definitely be on the ballot paper in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport on Thursday

The Liberal Democrat candidate for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport has denied rumours that he is no longer standing at the General Election.

Rumours have been circulating that the Lib Dems would be pulling out of the marginal seat currently held by Labour candidate Luke Pollard to avoid splitting the vote following a tweet from former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.

But candidate Graham Reed confirmed to Plymouth Live that he would be on the ballot paper on Thursday despite encouraging voters to vote tactically to avoid a 'Tory Brexit'.

The Liberal Democrats have not been canvassing in Sutton and Devonport, instead putting their efforts behind Totnes candidate and former Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston.

"The rumours are false, I'm not standing down," said Mr Reed, who previously stood for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport in 2015 and for Moor View in 2017.

"The reality is that I can't stand down even if I wanted to.

"The party would probably kick me out and I would lose my £500 deposit.

"In my view, every person in the constituency should have the option to vote for every main party.

"But I am firmly in favour of tactical voting in order to stop the Conservatives and Brexit."

Mr Reed, who is a former city councillor, added: "I was asked to stand by the Liberal Democrats and have been doing hustings ever since.

"We haven't been canvassing in Sutton and Devonport because we simply don't have the resources but I will be on the ballot paper.

"I think Alastair Campbell got a bit carried away and confused us not canvassing with not standing.

"But I do want to break the Tory stronghold in the South West and people should vote tactically to do that.

"I have voted tactically in the past and I will leave it up to voters to decide whether they want to do the same."

Despite the Lib Dems and Green Party remaining on the ballot paper for Thursday's General Election, Mr Pollard called upon cross-party support to "stop Boris Johnson" when contacted by Plymouth Live.

"It is a really close race between Labour and the Conservatives in Plymouth and there’s a lot at stake," he said.

"We know people are voting tactically to protect our NHS from privatisation.

"I’ve been proud to stand up for everyone in Plymouth regardless of their party allegiance over the past two years and that cross-party effort to get us our fair share is being recognised especially by Green and Lib Dem voters.

"It’s a two-horse race here and if people want to stop Boris Johnson they need to vote Labour."

James Ellwood, Green Party candidate for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said: "I can’t see why they’d stand down at this stage and it certainly hasn’t been discussed within the greens locally.

"Labour were approached to work together as part of progressive alliance and they refused, leaving us with no option but to stand in all seats not part of that electoral pact."

Do I live in the Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport constituency?

The areas which make up the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport parliamentary seat - formed in 2010 - include; Compton, Devonport, Stonehouse, Drake ward, (which includes the University of Plymouth and Mutley) Efford and Lipson, Peverell, St Peter and the Waterfront, Stoke, and Sutton and Mount Gould.

The constituency is entirely within the boundaries of Plymouth and includes the city centre.

The full list of candidates standing in Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport

Luke Pollard (Labour)

Luke Pollard was previously elected as the Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport in June 2017.  He was born in Plymouth and lives in Plymouth.

After winning the seat from the Conservatives, he was appointed PPS to Shadow Environment Secretary, Sue Hayman MP, before being promoted to Shadow Environment Minister responsible for Water, Flooding, Fishing and Coastal Communities in July 2018.

Before he was promoted, Mr Pollard was as a member of the Transport Select Committee.

He describes himself as an 'energetic fighter for Plymouth and the far south west' to get its fair share of funding from Westminster.

Mr Pollard spoke over 200 times in the House of Commons in his first two years and runs a number of campaigns from transport to defence, environment to refugees.

James Ellwood (Greens)

James is a filmmaker who runs a Plymouth-based Social Enterprise. His experience of small business and work in local communities makes him perfectly placed to understand the needs of local residents.

He is a strong advocate for investment into ethical business in Plymouth. He is standing as Green candidate with a vision of an alternative, more responsible and inclusive ways of doing politics in Plymouth.

James lives locally in Stonehouse where he is raising his family. He stood as Green Party candidate for St Peter & the Waterfront in the Plymouth Local Elections 2019.

Graham Reed (Lib Dems)

Mr Reed is a Master and Fellow of the British Society of Scientific Glassblowers and has a degree in politics.

He is married with two sons and five grandchildren. Mr Reed enjoys sailing, singing, loves fine music and exploring. Mr Reed is a director for Tamar Energy Community, an energy-saving co-op for Tavistock that is fighting climate change.

He has been a Lib Dem since the 1970s and is a former parliamentary candidate and ex-senior city councillor.

Mr Reed says he is a life-long supporter of liberal values and has always fought for a fairer voting system to ensure everyone has a true democratic representation; a strong and competent economy, a sustainable environment, good housing, proper education and health care for all.

Rebecca Smith (Conservatives)

Ms Smith was born in Freedom Fields Hospital in 1981, grew up in Greenbank and attended Mount Street Primary and Plymouth High School for Girls.

She is currently living in Greenbank with family whilst saving to buy her first home.

After graduating from University, Ms Smith worked in Plymouth City Council’s homelessness team.

She then worked in public service in London for eleven years with one aim in mind – to return home and fight Plymouth’s corner, 'getting the best deal for our city'.

Ms Smith returned to Plymouth in 2015 and is now a city councillor, school governor, trustee of several of local charities and a member of a local church.

Ms Smith believes politics can be a force for good - by bringing hope and positivity when society says there is none.

Ann Widdecombe (Brexit Party)

Veteran politician Ms Widdecombe - who served as a Conservative MP under John Major, rising to the position as Minister of State for Prisons - is currently a Brexit Party MEP for the South West region.

The 71-year-old, who has a home on Dartmoor, near Haytor, had been a committed Tory for 55 years and has previously served as Shadow Health and Home Secretary.

In 2010, she took part in series 8 of Strictly Come Dancing and in 2018 she joined Celebrity Big Brother.

Known for her controversial and divisive opinions, she joined Nigel Farage's new movement in April on a mission to speed up the process of Britain leaving the EU.

Mrs Widdecombe said in a statement when she was confirmed as Brexit Party candidate: "I am honoured to be the prospective candidate in such a wonderful seat."