Brexit Party announces General Election candidates for West Midlands
The Brexit Party has announced a batch of West Midlands candidates for Parliament as the prospects of an early general election continued to grow.
Nigel Farage has now announced 150 prospective MPs, insisting: "We are ready to fight in every seat to secure the Brexit that 17.4 million voted for.”
Boris Johnson has ruled out a poll before the October 31 Brexit deadline, but some MPs may attempt to trigger one in a bid to prevent a 'no deal' departure from the EU.
Five candidates have been announced for Leave backing areas in the Black Country.
Former Ukip councillor Paul Brothwood will stand against Brexiteer Tory Mike Wood in his home constituency of Dudley South. He has vowed to "offer a real alternative" to the established parties and "change politics for good".
Brexit Party MEP and former Southampton Football Club chairman Rupert Lowe is set to take on independent MP Ian Austin in Dudley North.
He said: "I've been making deals my whole life and it's about time the good people of Dudley have MPs who can fight for their interest on a national level."
In Walsall North the party has selected Stephen Petty to challenge Brexiteer Tory Eddie Hughes, while Raj Singh Chaggar – who was a Tory candidate for a Wolverhampton Council seat in May's local elections – is up against Labour's Pat McFadden in Wolverhampton South East.
Explaining why he had quit the Tories, the Sikh temple leader said that "only The Brexit Party can deliver on the referendum result and build a bright post-Brexit future for the UK".
Bodybuilder and software developer Aaron Hudson will contest the Stourbridge seat held by Conservative Margot James, who quit Theresa May's government to try and block a 'no deal' Brexit.
The father-of-three, who is a former deputy chairman of the Stourbridge Conservative Association, said he wants to fight for "an incredible and exciting future for Britain outside of the EU".
Elsewhere in the region, Anne Grahamslaw, chair of the board at Colchester Borough Homes, is the Brexit Party candidate for Stafford, where Conservative MP Jeremy Lefroy is due to stand down before the next general election.
Elaine Catherine Adams will contest the Telford seat currently held by Conservative Lucy Allan, while in Birmingham Wendy Garcarz is the candidate for Edgbaston, and Owen Prew has been selected to fight Northfield.
Over in Montgomeryshire, public transport campaigner Oliver Lewis will contest the seat held by Conservative MP Glyn Davies, who is set to stand down at the next poll.
Mr Lewis, who lives in Montgomery and is studying for a doctorate at the University of Oxford, is a former Tory who was also once a Labour Party member.
He describes himself as "a Remainer until just before the referendum" who still sympathises with some arguments for Remain, but who wants to see the result of the referendum respected.
"The Brexit Party is serious, and I am serious about changing politics for good," he said.
The odds on an early general election have tumbled in recent weeks.
A 2019 poll is now the odds on favourite, with an election on the scheduled date of May 2022 trading at 9/1 with some bookmakers.
