Sunny Singh: ‘Abandoned’ Liberal to run as independent in Mackellar

A Liberal Party member who pulled off a political ‘Steven Bradbury’ to win a seat on Northern Beaches Council as an independent, is set to run in the federal election.

Mandeep "Sunny" Singh is set to run as an independent in the seat of Mackellar in the May 3 federal election. Picture: Supplied

A high-profile election candidate who was supposed to run for Northern Beaches Council as a Liberal, is set to run as an independent in the Teal-held seat of Mackellar at the federal election.

Mandeep “Sunny” Singh, who now sits on Northern Beaches Council as an independent and says he has been “abandoned” by the Liberal Party, has confirmed he wants to run against sitting Teal MP Sophie Scamps.

The contest will also put Mr Singh up against endorsed Liberal candidate James Brown who is out to win the former blue-ribbon conservative seat. Dr Scamps holds Mackellar with a two-party preferred margin of 3.3 per cent.

But Mr Singh, who will confirm on Monday whether he will stand, said he had no animosity towards Mr Brown and would direct voting preferences to him to help get the Liberal across the line at the May 3 poll.

Mr Singh has already put messaging out on social media that he would run, but said on Monday morning that he was waiting on some information from the Australian Electoral Commission before making a final decision.

Mandeep 'Sunny' Singh, said he would direct voting preferences to the endorsed Liberal candidate James Brown. Picture: Supplied

He was a member of the Liberal Party prior to last September’s council election, but ended up running as an independent after he was caught up in the local government election nomination form debacle.

Liberal Party HQ had failed to nominate its 15 candidates, including Mr Singh, for the Northern Beaches Council election in time.

A corflute, without a Liberal Party logo, for Mandeep "Sunny" Singh, when he was successfully running for Northern Beaches Council at last September’s election. Picture: Supplied

Mr Singh got his name on the council ballot paper because he had lodged his own nomination forms online, however he had to run as an independent.

He said that since winning office, he has not been helped by the Liberal Party locally.

Under Liberal Party rules, a person who nominates as an election candidate against an endorsed Liberal candidate is automatically expelled from the party.

“I have not been acknowledged by the Liberal Party since I got on council,” he told this masthead on Monday.

“I have been abandoned by the Liberal Party.

Liberal candidate for Mackellar, James Brown. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Independent MP for Mackellar, Sophie Scamps. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“But if my preferences help James, then I will be really happy. I have nothing against James.

“I will support James Brown to make sure he gets in.”

Mr Singh said he was not being helped by the Sophie Scamps camp.

“The only reason I’d run as an independent is that I’ve been abandoned by the Liberals,” he said.

“Nobody has supported me as a councillor.”

Mr Singh is telling voters on social media that he will bring a “fresh perspective” and be a “strong, local voice that truly listens”.

“As a long-time northern beaches local and small business operator, I understand what our community needs.”

Mr Singh said he would advocate for cost of living relief and assistance for small business as well as support health and wellbeing initiatives, smart urban planning and “transport solutions”.

Originally published as Sunny Singh: ‘Abandoned’ Liberal to run as independent in Mackellar