Former Conservative candidate Kishan Devani joins Lib Dems
Former Parliamentary and GLA candidate (on the London-wide list) for the Conservatives, Kishan Devani, has joined the Liberal Democrats:
Thrilled to have joined the @LibDems yesterday. Look forward to working with @vincecable & @LibDems @LibDemPress. Leaving the @Conservatives was not a decision taken lightly – as have created some life long friends. But it is clear only @LibDems are taking the fight to #Brexit. pic.twitter.com/E1yHMXrWpn
— Kishan Devani FRSA (@Kishan_Devani) December 17, 2017
Had an amazing time with @vincecable at the @SwindonTemple with over 500 people this afternoon. He was honoured by the entire community – where he spoke of the great work the temple is doing & how he values the work the British Indian community do nationwide. pic.twitter.com/A26Ep4d6DF
— Kishan Devani FRSA (@Kishan_Devani) December 16, 2017
Welcome, Kishan.
UPDATE: He’s written about his reasons for joining the Lib Dems in Asian Lite. The Lib Dem stance on Europe was a major factor.
Having been instrumental in setting up ‘British Indians for In’ with the now Housing Minister Alok Sharma MP, I travelled up and down the country talking to the British Indian Community about the benefits of remaining in the EU. Currently the only political leader and party outlining the inconsistencies in the Brexit argument are the Liberal Democrats & Sir Vince Cable – everyone else seems to have vanished & with them their ‘remain’ arguments too.
That for me is still not the issue (even though some would say it remarkable how ‘remain’ politicians are now silent) – the issues are the by products of the referendum vote for example a rise in hate crime in London and across the country. Ethnic minority communities in particular the youth in these communities have been subjected to abuse which has divided our strong and united country. This has in my view been brought about by this constant lurch to the right by the Government.
He’s also talked to The Independent about his reasons for switching too:
A former Conservative parliamentary candidate who quit the party over its treatment of black and minority ethnic communities has said that, as the son of two refugees, he was “unable to look at himself in the mirror”.
Kishan Devani, who was the deputy chair of the party in London, has now joined the Liberal Democrats after the Tory’s “lurch to the right” and failure to deal with Islamophobia.
Mr Devani said the party’s attitude made him “very uncomfortable”.
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