Further divisions within Canterbury's Liberal Democrat party over its decision to field a candidate in the election have surfaced after association officials tried to cancel their annual general meeting.

The proposal to scrap the meeting tonight prompted complaints from several members of the association’s executive and has now been dropped.

The meeting could prove stormy with continuing recriminations over the way the party handled the resignation of its candidate, journalist Tim Walker.

Executive members were told the meeting had been cancelled - as there was “a lot going on” but the decision came under fire from some, according to sources.

Several argued that not holding the meeting would look like the party was trying to sidestep the controversy over its candidate selection.

Others warned cancellation could prompt resignations from members deprived of a chance to have their say.

Walker stood down this week, saying he wanted to give the Labour candidate Rosie Duffield the best chance of retaining the seat she won in 2017.

The national party responded by installing a new candidate, a councillor from Dorking, Claire Malcolmson.

Meanwhile, Labour’s fight to retain Canterbury in the election has received a fillip after the Women’s Equality Party said it would campaign for Rosie Duffield.

The party’s founder, Sandi Toksvig - the well-known TV personality - said members of the party would be helping Labour’s campaign in the city.

Writing in The Guardian, she said: “People are more important than parties, always and especially now. We need good people in parliament to ensure good outcomes for people.

"Duffield is a good person to have in parliament. She has represented the people of Canterbury for two years. In that time she has consistently voted against austerity, against a disastrous Brexit and in favour of equality. She has pushed for proportional representation and collaborative politics.”

She also praised Rosie Duffield for her openness over domestic abuse after making an emotional speech in the Commons about her experience of being in an abusive relationship.

She added: “She showed us that it is possible to heal. She showed survivors across the UK that they have someone in parliament who will speak up for them.

"The House of Commons cannot be an easy place to feel vulnerable, any more than the media is. We have all seen the slanging matches and heard about the avalanche of abuse that is driving women out of politics. It is something of an understatement to say that none of the mainstream parties has a good record when it comes to tackling harassment or abuse within their own ranks.”

The Women’s Equality Party is fielding a candidate in Dover and Deal - one of five constituencies it is contesting.

Full details of candidates standing in the General Election will be known today, with a 4pm deadline for nominations.

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