Labour MP 'changes his accent' for by-election campaign
Labour Kingswood candidate Damian Egan has proven he will stop at nothing to try to persuade voters in the Gloucestershire constituency to back him.
The former Mayor of Lewisham who quit to fight a crucial by-election in February, which could help propel Labour to a general election victory later this year, has posted video championing his local links.
But keen observers on X (formerly Twitter) have pointed out that Egan is now speaking with an attempted West Country burr while in videos he put out in Lewisham he had a distinctly south London accent.
It comes after the Conservatives dubbed Egan as "one of the Lewisham Labour luvvies", parachuted into the Gloucestershire seat as a key ally of party leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Egan lives within streets of shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, her sister and fellow shadow cabinet member Ellie, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan's former transport advisor, Heidi Alexander, in a home valued at ￡753,000.
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READ MORE: . Dismay as Starmer parachutes in 'Lewisham Labour luvvie' for crucial by-election
Egan is liked by Laabour leader Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
Thornbury and Yate Tory MP Luke Hall said: “By selecting a candidate that lives 120 miles away in the London borough of Lewisham, the contempt that Labour have for the people of Kingswood is clear.
"He's trying to mask where he is from - Lewisham, in a poor attempt to pull the wool over voters eyes."
Mr Hall also questioned whether picking someone who has championed Sadiq Khan's unpopular policies for London including the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a sign of Labour plans for the rest of the country.
He said: “It is more and more apparent that Labour want to extend many of their failed policies like ULEZ, London style car parking charges and concreting over our green belt."
The two videos - shown above this story - show Mr Egan with two distinctive accents.
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Rachel Reeves is part of the so-called Lewisham luvvies (Image: Getty)
Hahaha check out the difference in accent from when he was the 'local' mayor of Lewisham to now.
Thanks to @Obseyxx for pointing it out. https://t.co/7iSDDg8jYJ pic.twitter.com/dXfJHiqvak
— j (@jrc1921) January 17, 2024
In the video for Kingswood voters, Egan described how he was born in the area and his family "was made homeless".
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But an earlier video for Lewisham had him also pitching his local credentials and talking about supporting businesses in a south London accent.
The Kingswood by-election was called after former Tory minister Chris Skidmore dramatically quit as an MP in protest over Rishi Sunak's decision to grant new oil and gas exploration licences.
The Tories have selected Sam Bromily who has lived in the constituency for most of his life.
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