Lifelong socialist explains why Robert Eggleston gets his vote at this general election

Richard Fry, local businessman and lifelong socialist, explains why he has just voted Liberal Democrat for the first time and about an uncanny connection with Michael Heseltine.

Richard, founder and MD of Micro-ID Ltd, has not only cast his postal vote for the Liberal Democrats for the first time but has volunteered to assist the Robert Eggleston campaign and has joined the party.

Meeting with Robert Eggleston on Sunday, Richard explained how he personally now feels most strongly aligned with the policies of the Liberal Democrats.

Richard is the son of Harry Fry who long time residents of Mid Sussex will remember as the only Labour councillor here, representing the Bentswood Ward, back in the 1960's. During this period, Harry worked for World Press News, but was sacked by his then boss Michael Heseltine (before he was an MP), due to his activities as a Labour councillor.

Ironically, around 50 years later both Harry's son Richard, and former boss Michael Heseltine came together in November 2019 to support and speak out for the Liberal Democrats in what could be the most important General Election of a generation.

Stories like this show how the Liberal Democrats are bringing people together; people who believe in the importance of stopping Brexit, and enabling the country to spend time and resources on the issues that really matter like the environment, tackling poverty and inequality, health and education. People who believe that climate change is best dealt with in partnership with our neighbours in the EU.

Richard was in Vienna the week of the Referendum back in 2016, selling microchips for pet identification at a European vet conference. The Leave result was an instant blow to the business as the pound collapsed and components correspondingly leapt up in price.

Only exceptional hard work has kept this business afloat and Richard knows of many small businesses where this hasn't been enough. Any Brexit, but especially a hard or no deal Brexit, would risk further currency devaluation alongside the loss of access to the single market for goods and make many British businesses unviable.

Richard says "I have already used my postal vote to vote for Robert and I believe that the Liberals have what it takes to get Brexit undone. I would be very happy to help in some way".

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