Trio of opposition parties agree electoral pact

The Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party have agreed an electoral pact to ensure that they will not run against each other in an estimated 60 to 70 constituencies.

Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price, had written to a number of pro-Remain parties earlier in the year, calling for collaboration in a snap general election, which has now culminated in the three-way agreement.

The trio of parties are all opposed to Brexit and are campaigning for a second referendum on EU membership as part of their election manifestos.

Full details of the pact will be released later on Thursday, but 11 of the 40 Welsh constituencies will be included according to BBC Wales.

Outside of Wales, the pact is effectively a bilateral agreement between the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

The pact will exclude two of the parties from fielding a candidate in affected constituencies, to boost the prospects of the third candidate winning.

In Wales, the Lib Dems and the Greens will not stand in three of the four seats being defended by Plaid Cymru, however, the Plaid-held Ceredigion seat will be contested by the Lib Dems.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said: “We are delighted that an agreement has been reached. This is a significant moment for all people who want to support Remain candidates across the country.”

The agreement is similar in nature to that which came about ahead of the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election earlier in 2019. Plaid Cymru and the Green Party agreed not to stand in order to hand an advantage to Lib Dem candidate Jane Dodds, who saw off the sitting Conservative MP for the region, Chris Davies.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has refused to enter into an electoral pact with any other opposition party, as has prime minister Boris Johnson.

Nigel Farage, the Brexit Party leader previously called on the prime minister to abandon his Brexit deal with the EU and agree to stand aside candidates for each other in select constituencies.

The election begins five weeks on Thursday, on December 12.