Palestine could be a key issue in deciding battleground seats in next month’s General Election.
And many candidates in those seats have been quick to respond to voters’ concerns on the issue.
In an email poll co-ordinated by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in which constituents asked their candidates for their views on justice for Palestinians, the incumbent and/or main challenger in 75 of the key swing seats sent back their answers.
In total, 170 candidates who were MPs until dissolution responded to the questions. The series of seven questions are designed to gauge candidates’ support for a range of issues including an arms embargo on Israel, the immediate lifting of Israel’s blockade on Gaza, and a suspension of the EU-Israel trade treaty.
Their answers, and those of candidates in other seats, are now available on Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s website and form an important resource for people who want to cast their vote for a candidate who will support justice for Palestine if elected to Parliament.
Sarah Colborne, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: “In the key battleground seats, we’ve seen constituents being very engaged in emailing their candidates to find out where they stand on Palestine. In response, we’ve seen a similar engagement by candidates, with over 700 answering our questions on Palestine.
“Following Israel’s assault on Gaza last summer, candidates standing in the general election are increasingly aware that the issue of Palestine, and justice for the Palestinian people, is an important factor in people’s voting choices. In many battleground seats, this could be a make or break factor for candidates.”
Notes to editors
- The questions which were sent to candidates can be found here:
https://palestinecampaign.org/psc-candidates/ - Candidates’ responses can be found here:
https://palestinecampaign.org/candidatespalestine/ - Palestine Solidarity Campaign received responses from candidates in these battleground seats:
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, Bath, Battersea, Bedford, Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Hall Green, Birmingham, Northfield, Birmingham, Selly Oak, Birmingham, Yardley, Bolton West, Bosworth, Bradford East, Bradford West, Brecon and Radnorshire, Brent Central, Brent North, Brentford and Isleworth, Brigg and Goole, Brighton, Kemptown, Brighton, Pavilion, Bristol East, Bristol North West, Bristol South, Bristol West, Broxtowe, Burnley, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Calder Valley, Camborne and Redruth, Cambridge, Chippenham, Croydon Central, Dewsbury , East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, East Lothian, Edinburgh West , Falkirk, Gillingham and Rainham, Glasgow Central, Glasgow East, Glasgow North, Glasgow North East, Glasgow South, Hammersmith, Hampstead and Kilburn, Hasting and Rye, Hendon, Holborn and St Pancras, Ilford North , Inverclyde, Ipswich, Lancaster and Fleetwood , Mid Dorset and North Poole, Norwich South, Orkney and Shetland, Oxford West and Abingdon, Richmond Park, Rochdale, Ross, Skye and Lochaber, Rotherham, Somerton and Frome, Southampton Itchen, Southampton Test, Stirling, Stockton South, Stroud, Sutton and Cheam, Taunton Deane, Truro and Falmouth, Watford, Wells, Westminster North.
The media release above was sent to national and international media on 23 April 2015