News / Politics
Ann Widdecombe lends support to Rupert Lowe ahead of Kingswood by-election
The UK is currently “being run like a kindergarten”, Ann Widdecombe told a public meeting in Emersons Green Village Hall.
The former Conservative Party minister is now a member of Reform UK and was lending her support to Rupert Lowe, Reform’s candidate in the upcoming Kingswood by-election.
“It’s been very positive, we’ve got a lot of people saying they’re fed up with the way Westminster’s going,” said Bath-born Widdecombe.
She added: “There’s been a lot of concern about building on greenbelts, that’s been a huge concern, particularly in one part of the constituency and the message coming over is most people are fed up.
“They think the country is being run like a kindergarten.”
Around 60 people attended the public meeting in Emersons Green with Ann Widdecombe and Rupert Lowe – photo: Reform UK
Lowe told Bristol24/7: “To get well over 60 people to a public meeting on a Saturday afternoon, competing with the football and the rugby, shows the anger being felt across the constituency at just how poorly we are being governed.
“Ann is a legendary politician, and it was a delight to show her around Kingswood. Judging by the feeling on the doorstep, we are going to surprise a few on Thursday.”
Widdecombe joined Lowe door-knocking around the constituency on Saturday, on a day in which a current Tory big beast, Lee Anderson, was also in Kingswood to support Conservative canddiate, Sam Bromiley.
The Tories have hung a banner on a red double-decker bus saying ‘From Lewisham to Kingswood, 120-mile trip’.
It’s a none-too-subtle dig at the Labour candidate, Damien Egan, who grew up in the local area despite previously being mayor of the London borough of Lewisham before resigning to fight the Kingswood by-election.
The Kingswood by-election is taking place on Thursday.
Candidates are:
- Sam Bromiley, Conservative
- Andrew Brown, Lib Dem
- Damien Egan, Labour
- Lorraine Francis, Green
- Rupert Lowe, Reform UK
- Nicholas Wood, UKIP
Main photo: Reform UK
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
