Stephen Lloyd is a bit of a local media whore. There’s hardly an edition of the south east local news that he doesn’t manage to wangle himself into. A good old fashioned “winning here” Lib Dem. By contrast the Tory MP who briefly replaced him in 2015 quickly became pretty unpopular locally, partly because of some kind of low-level scandal. I think these things largely explain his surprise re-election rather than anything about Eastbourne per se, a town I know quite well. The town does seem to have improved a bit over the past few years, especially since the burnt out pier was repaired.

I generally disdain Lloyd and his pointing-at-potholes approach to being an MP but I really do admire him for the stand he has taken on this – very courageous and will go down well in his constituency.

I was gonna say soubds like typical lib demery

Does anyone know whether Lloyd is to contest the GE as an Ind?

In the betting markets on Inds likely to win, he is listed after the East Devon Ind, Lady Hermon, Frank Field, George Galloway and so on.

I had assumed that one map/list – by Ind certain to win – they meant the Speaker, but maybe that won’t be certain now either.

Looks like he voted in favour of the bill to stop a no deal and relations between him and the Lib Dems seem cordial, so if he does stand as an independent would be unlikely to face a Lib Dem opponent.

That’s the odd thing though, 8 Leavers voted for the Bill.

I think Frank Field did so because the Kinnock Amendment was added ie he wants to Leave with a deal unlike Hoey, Mann et al.

Incidentally – and I realise it’ll only affect half a dozen seats such as Southport, W & L, Rochdale – the Liberal Party have said they’ll stand in seats to give Liberal Leavers a choice in the North West.

I know Eastbourne a fair bit. It’s highly likely the Lib Dems will lose the seat if Lloyd is not their candidate. As Lloyd’s stance on Brexit highlights, this is not a seat where Swinson’s Bollocks To Brexit approach will go down at all well. Ironically Lewes next door will be far more receptive to it if the big Green vote there agrees to vote tactically.

Here I think it’s most likely that either Lloyd will have the whip quickly restored or he will not be opposed by the Lib Dems if he stands as an independent….it’s possible of course that he might stand down and in that case I expect a Tory gain.