THE Brexit Party will fight the next Holyrood election with the aim of getting MSPs elected via the list system, its first Scottish MEP has said.
Entrepreneur Louis Stedman-Bryce told the Herald his party intended to field candidates in 2021 even though it also hopes to have completed its founding goal of Brexit by this autumn.
Mr Stedman-Bryce, 44, who recently launched a new social care business with his husband, said: “There’s a lot of things that, personally, I feel don’t work in Scotland. Coming from a health and social care background I’ve seen first hand where the system is failing the people of Scotland. That’s something I’m really passionate about and want to get involved in, and to do that, that needs to be at a national level.”
Brexit came second behind the SNP in Scotland on a 14.8% share of the vote.
Asked if the result meant it would field candidates in 2021, Mr Stedman-Bryce said: “Absolutely. A poll that I was reading had us picking up eight members in the Scottish Parliament [based on current support], and that’s with five weeks of us being around. So give us a year and half, two years, let’s see what we can do.”
Former Ukip MEP David Coburn wrongly predicted his party could also get elected at Holyrood. Mr Stedman-Bryce said Brexit was “completely different”.
He said: “That was Ukip. I wouldn’t have voted for Ukip, if I’m honest with you.
“Brexit offers a home to average working class people, middle class people, to everyone really, from different religions, genders, orientations. I think what we’re seeing is that there’s a need for a party like this.
“If you look at the result from the previous Ukip vote, we’re way up on that. We’re taking votes from all areas, and that’s why I think we can make a difference this time.”
SNP MEP Alyn Smith yesterday said he thought Brexit was a “dubious money-laundering front”.
Asked if he believed he was elected cleanly given controversy over Brexit’s finances, Mr Stedman-Bryce said: “Absolutely, yes. I think we have been open and transparent. We’ve had the Electoral Commission in to give us the once over, and it’s all looking good.”
Asked if he would quit if it emerged he was elected with the help of illegal donations, he said: “I wouldn’t even speculate on that because I know it’s not true.”
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