Toby McDonald
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A candidate for the UK Independence Party, which favours withdrawing Britain from the European Union, has defended his decision to run his election campaign from his holiday home in France.
While rival candidates have been pounding the streets of Dumfries and Galloway Bill Wright has been enjoying the spring sunshine almost a thousand miles away in the picturesque village of Rossay in the Loire Valley.
He flew out to his Gallic bolthole shortly after signing his election nomination papers at the beginning of April and plans to return to the constituency on Wednesday, in time for Thursday’s count.
Speaking from France, Wright said he’d agreed to stand at the last minute when the previous candidate pulled out but had already arranged to oversee modification work on his holiday home, which he had arranged in February.
“I explained fully to the party that I had prior commitments and was coming here and it was accepted that I could stand on those grounds,” he said.
“I love Europe for a holiday, I just don’t want to be ruled by bureaucrats who are not elected. It’s a wonderful place, great culture, great history but they cannot rule us. I accept criticisms but I had very strong commitments to come here.
“I am in touch electronically. I have been sending my press releases to my election agent and I have been answering any letters that any constituent has sent in.
“I would love to have been going around in Dumfries and Galloway letting people see me but I had these prior commitments. The house needed to be brought up to modern standards.”
Wright said he intended to return home on the eve of polling day, adding that he did not think his absence from the campaign trail would affect his support. “I’m coming back on the 5th, I’ll swim if I have to. If I’m elected, I’ll give my all to Dumfries and Galloway.
“I wish it was another time but it has happened and it has taken this long for people to realise that I’m in France and I think under the circumstances I am doing what I can.”
The 65-year-old retired engineer’s disappearance was noticed when he missed a BBC Scotland radio debate between the five candidates contesting the seat.
Labour has a majority of 2,922 and a swing of just under 3% could give control to the Tories. UKIP’s decision to field a candidate threatened to split the right-wing vote. UKIP Scotland describes itself as “a libertarian, non-racist party seeking Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union”.
Wright’s disappearance has raised eyebrows in Dumfries. Yesterday his neighbour, Crawford Primrose, said he had signed Wright’s nomination papers shortly before he left.
“I had no problem doing that because I just thought it was hilarious,” he said. “My wife’s looking after his cats.
“He might as well donate his £500 deposit. The fact is the guy is not doing any canvassing.
“How can you become the prospective candidate for Dumfries against Labour, the Conservatives and so forth when you don’t even bother to stand up on a soapbox in the town square and say what your manifesto is and what you are standing for?
“He is against the Euro and is against this and against that as the UKIP party, then he vanishes off to a holiday house in France.”
Peter Duncan, the Conservative candidate, said: “Local people in Dumfries and Galloway want a hard-working local MP and expect a hard-working local campaign.
“With 75,000 electors to meet in two days, Wright will have a busy couple of days.”
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