Emily Thornberry: ‘We are fighting to win. It’s the only strategy. We are the only national alternative to this appalling Tory government’

ISLINGTON South MP Emily Thornberry has rejected the idea of entering into electoral pacts with Greens and Liberal Democrats in marginal seats to stop Conservative gains.

It comes after Green Party members agreed not to field candidates in Ilford North, and Ealing Central and Acton to boost Labour’s chances of retaining the seats.

Caroline Lucas, the co-leader of the Green party, this week said the Labour leadership’s position on some form of electoral alliance to limit Conservative gains is at odds with many Labour members. She added it was a betrayal of the British people.

But Ms Thornberry said: “We are a national party and quite frankly the choice is between a Labour government or a Tory government, so we would not stand aside. We need to make this clear, anything else is mixed messages.

“We are fighting to win. It’s the only strategy. We are the only national alternative to this appalling Tory government. People must have the opportunity to vote for a Labour government.”

Caroline Russell, Green candidate for Islington North

Labour’s former policy chief, Jon Cruddas, has called on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to stand down candidates in two key constituencies in order to help the Greens defeat the Conservatives and boost Labour’s hopes elsewhere. The call has been backed by Corbyn ally Clive Lewis, peers and campaigners including musician Billy Bragg.

And on Monday, Hampstead and Kilburn’s Labour MP Tulip Siddiq will meet with Green members in the marginal seat, where the Greens are considering not fielding a candidate.

The Liberal Democrats have decided not to contest Ms Lucas’s Brighton Pavilion seat, and the Greens in turn are stepping aside in an adjacent constituency.

Islington councillor Caroline Russell, Green candidate for Islington North, said: “Labour would say that, because it suits their narrative to make people think it’s a binary choice.

“I’m not going to tell the Labour Party how to behave but I seriously believe that the voting system is broken.”

She added: “It’s about looking at it on a case-by-case basis. The overall electoral maths is pretty grim for people who support progressive politics, but everywhere in marginal seats you can have these conversations.

“The prospect of Theresa May’s turbo-charged Conservatism is frankly terrifying. We really need the progressive parties to stand together.”