A very happy 38th birthday to Shipley's outspoken Conservative MP, Philip Davies.
I took him by surprise earlier when I called to ask if he had entered an electoral pact with the English Democrats - the party under whose banner his father, Peter, successfully sought election as Mayor of Doncaster last year.
My enquiry was prompted by the discovery that on the English Democrats' list of general election candidates on its website, the party's candidate for Shipley is named as one Philip Davies, as per the screengrab below:
Here's what Philip had to say by way of response:
"I certainly haven't done a deal and I haven't defected to them - I've not even been asked. I am a Conservative and I've no intention of ever changing that. Maybe they've adopted me as one their own out of loyalty to my dear father? I hope they don't stand against me, I'm sure we would agree on many issues; but I'm certainly not an English Democrat candidate".
Robin Tilbrook, the English Democrats' chairman, says that his party's website editor must have overzealous in naming the Shipley MP as their own candidate, but confirms that the party will not be putting up its own candidate in the seat:
"We won't be standing there. I doubt Peter would be keen on us standing against his son. So he [Philip Davies] will be standing with our blessing rather than under our banner".
Jonathan Isaby
