Freddie van Mierlo, Oxfordshire County Councillor for Chalgrove and Watlington, is the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for the Henley constituency, after taking more than half of members’ votes in a 5-way contest.
Recent polling by Opinium have the Liberal Democrats winning the Henley Constituency at 43%, with the Conservatives slumping to just 31%. This poll was even taken before the chaos caused by the Conservatives, with yet another leadership race and the prospect of a 3rd Prime Minister in 3 months.
Freddie has a track record of winning against the Conservatives, after taking the Chalgrove & Watlington county seat off the Conservatives in 2021, nearly doubling the Liberal Democrat vote. The same swing in a general election would see the Lib Dems take the constituency also.
On becoming the Liberal Democrat candidate, Freddie said “The Liberal Democrats are the very clear challengers to the Conservatives in the Henley constituency. Many residents already know what it means to have a hard-working Liberal Democrat councillor. I live here in Henley and my aim is to deliver Henley a hard-working MP that is on their side”
“We know that the Conservative MP, John Howell, does not vote in line with the priorities of the people of this constituency. He has consistently voted against measures to prevent the dumping of sewage into our waterways, and just a few days ago he voted in favour of fracking”
“As an Oxfordshire Councillor, I see the impact of Conservative Party mismanagement of the economy and public services on the lives of ordinary people in Oxfordshire. We now have a 2 and half year waiting list for children and adult mental health services in Oxfordshire, and we have an ambulance service that was rated inadequate. The NHS is on its knees and all that Conservative MPs can do is continue to fight over which one of them gets to sit in Number 10”
“I want to change that. The best way I can see to get the country back on track is to beat the Conservatives here and be an MP that Henley can be proud of again”
