Hexham Lib Dems re-select Andrew Duffield for Westminster (Hexham Liberal Democrats)

Hexham Liberal Democrats <info@hexhamlibdems.org.uk>

Hexham Lib Dems re-select Andrew Duffield for Westminster

January 14, 2007 12:00 AM

Andrew Duffield: My priorities are the people's priorities - axing council tax, cutting crime and making housing affordable once again for the young and the poor.

Local Liberal Democrat members have re-selected Councillor Andrew Duffield as their Parliamentary Candidate for the Hexham constituency.

At a packed Hustings meeting in Corbridge Parish Hall on Sunday, the Party membership re-endorsed Councillor Duffield as their choice to become Hexham's first Lib Dem MP.

Councillor Duffield, 44, is a former Northumberland County Councillor and is currently a District Councillor based in Thropton and a Middle School Governor.

"I am delighted to have been chosen once again to fight the Hexham seat for the Liberal Democrats," Councillor Duffield said.

"After a massive 11% swing to us at the last General Election, Hexham is now very much a 3-way marginal seat and we have everything to play for.

"With Labour in disarray nationally and locally, and with the Conservatives struggling to string a policy together, Hexham is an eminently winnable prospect for us.

"We will be taking Labour to task over their failure to fund education in Northumberland, the financial crisis they have created in the NHS and their contempt for rural services. Blair has paid lip service to the environment, and Brown is no green!

"The Tories' support for the illegal war in Iraq, hand-wringing over Post Office closures and so much hot-air on climate change proves they are out of touch, out of date and unfit to represent the people of Hexham in the next Parliament. Atkinson must go!

"It really is time for a change in Hexham and in Tynedale. The Liberal Democrats have the distinctive policies, the dynamism and the drive to make a real and sustainable difference to the lives of local people.

"My priorities are the people's priorities - axing council tax, cutting crime and making housing affordable once again for the young and the poor. We are working to win!"