Wickham Warns Serpent Watts Exit Could Destabilize UPP

Pollster Peter Wickham says the possible exit of Algernon Serpent Watts from the St. George constituency could further unsettle the United Progressive Party at a delicate moment.

Watts, a first-term MP who won the seat convincingly in the 2023 by-election, has been weighing his political future and was not included on the slate of candidates announced by party leader Jamale Pringle for the next general election. Pringle has since said the party is seeking a replacement.

Watts has indicated he will not contest the next polls, constitutionally due by 2028, citing health reasons, though internal party tensions have persisted.

“If he does leave, it destabilizes the constituency,” Wickham said, noting that while Watts won comfortably, replacing a sitting candidate typically has a disruptive effect. He added that the UPP is “not exactly in a good position to start with,” and losing a charismatic incumbent could further weaken the party as it heads into an election cycle.

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