Ian Jones reportedly stepping down as Collet standard bearer as incumbent Patrick Faber contemplates return

Published by BBNTEAM at March 29, 2023

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Posted: Wednesday, March 29, 2023. 4:10 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: While we have not been able to locate the original post on either his personal or campaign social media page, we understand that Ian Jones, United Democratic Party (UDP) standard-bearer for the Collet division, is planning to step aside some four months after being endorsed.

The message to delegates reads, “effectively today with consultation with the Party leader I will be rendering my resignation as standard bearer of the Collet constituency….in the grand scheme of things and with the ultimate objective being Unity of the Party as we move into an election season, I believe this to be the best decision for the party.”

It comes as incumbent area representative Patrick Faber contemplates a return to the party fold from the icy cold, following his presentation in the Budget Debate last week. Earlier this week, he told Channel 5 News that he hopes his candidacy for the constituency would hopefully be discussed at the party’s forthcoming National Party Council meeting, which we understand will also discuss keeping leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow as party leader and Leader of the Opposition going into the next cycle of national elections. Following their falling out for acts seen as insubordination and Faber openly threatening an independent run after being denied candidacy over violations of the Party’s Constitution, Barrow has sounded more conciliatory in recent weeks, acknowledging that there would be space for Faber in a future Cabinet, most likely as Minister of Education. A Faber return was always conditional on Jones stepping aside.

In his Channel 5 interview, Faber ruled out contesting leadership at a national convention or other convention for leadership but allowed that there was still more work to be done to get the party truly united and backing a single leader – whether that be Barrow or someone else.

We continue to follow the story.

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