Race to become Windsor's next MP underway

The race to be Windsor’s next MP is underway as both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives confirmed their candidates for the next General Election.

Windsor’s long-serving Tory MP Adam Afriyie has decided not to stand, meaning a new face will represent the constituency for the first time since 2005.

The Windsor Conservative Association announced on Friday (September 1) that former Royal Borough councillor Jack Rankin has been selected to contest the seat.

Julian Tisi, who has stood to be Windsor’s MP on three previous occasions, will be running on behalf of the Liberal Democrats.

A Labour candidate for the constituency is yet to be announced while independent candidates are expected to be on the ballot paper.

Mr Rankin, 31, is returning to Windsor with his wife Sarah and son Edward after narrowly missing out on being elected as MP for Warwick and Leamington at the 2019 General Election.

He told the Express he wants to be ‘Windsor’s voice in Westminster’ and is aiming to be a ‘campaigning, committed and vocal’ local constituency member of Parliament.

The Conservatives secured a 20,000 vote majority at the 2019 General Election but the party suffered a near wipeout in the May local elections in Windsor and Maidenhead.

Mr Rankin said: “I certainly won’t be taking the seat for granted. I want to be on the doorstep straight away listening to what people have got to say and seeing how we can help them.”

He added: “Obviously at the local elections, the Lib Dems and Independents did well in the Royal Borough. But come the General Election, the Lib Dems are not going to be my primary concern.

“To be honest, every left wing vote that goes to the Liberal Democrats gives me a bit of breathing space in the First Past the Post system.

“Come the General Election, it’s going to be clear that it will be a Labour or Conservative MP and a Labour or a Conservative Government.”

Windsor’s constituency is set to be redrawn for the next General Election and will include three Slough-based wards including Colnbrook with Poyle, Foxborough and Langley Kedermister.

Julian Tisi, who will be standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate, told the Express that he expects his party to be the main challenger to the Conservatives due to Labour’s ‘invisibility’ in the Royal Borough.

Mr Tisi, who was elected as a Royal Borough councillor for Eton and Castle ward in May, said: “The Conservatives are clearly the favourites but we are the main challengers. When you look at the national opinion polls, it’s very clear the reason Labour is ahead is a lot more with the disillusionment with the Conservatives than about any love for Kier Starmer or the Labour Party.

“Where it’s clear the Liberal Democrats are the main challengers, people are turning to us rather than Labour.”

Julian Tisi (centre) after being elected to Eton and Castle ward in May.

He added: “The last few elections have been overshadowed by issues like Brexit. I suspect this will be the first election that comes down to ordinary issues for some time.

“The Conservative record is appalling and there’s a parallel between what’s happened locally and national where the Conservatives have taken our country for granted and taken Windsor for granted.”

Mr Tisi added the Conservatives remain in ‘complete denial’ over the damage caused by Britain’s decision to leave the EU and claimed Labour has been silent on the issue.

A Labour Party spokesperson told the Express: “Labour will be selecting high calibre candidates across the country and will be campaigning hard for every vote. As the Selby & Ainsty by-election result showed, this is a changed Labour Party, winning support across the country.”