Syed Akhtar Chosen To Fight for change in Heston East by-election

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 31st Oct 2004

The Lib Dems have chosen long-standing local resident Syed Shahzad Akhtar as their candidate to fight the Heston East by-election on 25th November, caused by the sad death of Cllr Roger Clarke. Syed and his family have lived in the area for 10 years. He studied engineering at Cambridge University and has extensive professional experience, currently working at Unilever.

Following his selection Syed said, "I have three young children and my parents run a local business. There are numerous challenges that face the community in Heston East. What is clear is that local residents now feel let down by the quality of basic council services and want a change. Road maintenance, repairing pavements and rubbish management have all been neglected. In many wards these can be taken for granted, but in Heston East local residents are increasingly angry and frustrated. I look forward to taking on these fundamentals if elected as a councillor."

Dee Doocey, Lib Dem London Assembly member added, "I am delighted that Syed has been chosen to fight for Heston. He will be a great champion of local issues and he will make an excellent new councillor."

Parliamentary spokesperson, Satnam Kaur Khalsa, said, "In September's Heston West by-election the Lib Dems boosted their vote share by 32%. As we continue to build further on this success, the Heston East by-election looks set to be a photo-finish."