Apart from representatives from the main parties, Labour, Green Liberal Democrat and Conservative and, it appears, Reform, you can expect to see some less well-known candidates standing across East Anglia. All of these will have paid their £500 deposit and if they garner more than 5% of the vote, this will be returned to them. They must be over 18 and be nominated by both a proposer and seconder. And all political parties must be registered with the Electoral Commission so their names and emblems can be put on the ballot paper.
All political colours
The range of political colours and beliefs represented by some of the smaller parties resembles a veritable pick and mix. Should you be voting in the Basildon & Billericay constituency, as well as the usual suspects, you could select Christopher Bateman who represents the British Democratic Party, who is an existing parish councillor. Or if the politics of the right aren’t your thing, then put a cross in the box for Dave Murray representing the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition. Thus far he hasn’t commanded any success in the local elections, but general elections are different.
Broxbourne, apart from the major parties, has both representatives of UKIP and the English Constitution Party (EC) standing. This constituency mirrors many of the political hues across the region. The EC candidate, Brett Frewin, dreams of “self-determination for England” and Martin Harvey for UKIP, only gained 8% of the vote when he stood, unsuccessfully, for Roydon & Lower Nazeing district council earlier this year.
Revolts among the county set?
There most probably won’t be a revolution in the seat of Bury St Edmunds & Stowmarket but the Communist Party (CP) thinks it’s in with chance. So does, the Rejoin EU (REU) Party. The CP candidate, Darren Turner has successfully come last in every election where he has stood as a communist. Though he did win a seat on Bury St Edmunds town council, when he was a Labour candidate. Apart from reading that REU’s Richard Baker Howard’s favourite biscuit is a Florentine, his party’s main goal is to rejoin the EU. All Rejoin candidates want to “challenge and properly hold accountable those who foisted it [Brexit] on us.”
The picture across East Anglia
We are the region of Kett, Cromwell and the Burston school strike, this area has a tradition of mavericks and troublemakers. Mark Citizen Lawrence for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party in Chelmsford has as much right to stand as an MP as Thomas Bartholemew Hall of the Shared Ground Party in Epping Forest. Mark wants to reform “our current democracies” and Thomas is concerned about “the false dichotomy between left- and right-wing politics.”
The royal flush
When it comes to a constituency that can boast many valiant troopers and somewhat obscure candidates – Southend West and Leigh wins the prize. You could vote mainstream, or if you’re dissatisfied and don’t care if your candidate has a cat’s chance of getting into parliament, then you could vote for Confelicity’s candidate, James Miller, who promises to work for all Southend residents and plans to “stop stupid.” Lara Michelle Hurley from the Heritage Party has unsuccessfully stood as a candidate in local elections. She says she promotes liberty, and the party wants to repeal “all laws that undermine our fundamental freedoms.”
And then there’s the Psychedelic Movement. Jason Pilley’s ambition is to “ open cannabis cafes across the constituency, legalise psychedelic therapy (rock on Timothy Leary) and give “every 18 year old a plane ticket to fly across the world.”
Few, if any, of these candidates mention how they’ll fund their political ambitions, some don’t appear to care, but they all represent democracy.
