Neil Coyle, the Labour candidate for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, does not expect the party to win a majority at the election – and says the blame “absolutely” lies at the top of his party.
Speaking in an interview ahead of the General Election next week, Coyle told the News that Labour’s policies are “very popular”, but that he does not expect it will form the next Government with a majority.
The candidate is in a battle to keep his seat, which had a comfortable 13,000 majority at the last election.
“It’s a realism to know that, at best, we will be delivering some policies from opposition, which we had secured, or in coalition government,” he said.
READ MORE: Election interview: Judge me on my record, urges Bermondsey and Old Southwark candidate Neil Coyle
The candidate also spoke of his frustration that the Labour Party is not in a stronger position nationally with just days to go before voters head to the polls.
“The aim has always been to have a Labour Party that’s in a strong position … I’m deeply disappointed that we’re not in a stronger position in this election,” said Coyle.
He added: “It does not take long knocking on people’s doors to find out what people think of the leadership.”
Coyle has garnered himself a reputation as one of the Labour Party’s most outspoken voices since 2015, when he first won the seat, and has frequently clashed with those on its Corbynite wing.
The Liberal Democrats are hoping to wrest the seat back in a hotly contested battle. The Liberal Democrats had previously held the seat for over three decades until losing it in 2015.