Khalsa and Dakers selected as Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidates

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 23rd Oct 2004

Hounslow Borough Liberal Democrats have selected Satnam Kaur Khalsa as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Feltham & Heston. Andrew Dakers has been selected as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Brentford & Isleworth.

Satnam Kaur Khalsa, who is an auditor by profession, fought the Heston West by-election in September, when she came a strong second.

Commenting on her selection Satnam said, "The recent result in Heston West shows that a vote for Michael Howard's Conservatives in Feltham & Heston is a wasted vote. This constituency will be a contest between the Lib Dems and Labour. I believe that Labour took us to war in Iraq on the basis of weapons of mass destruction that didn't exist. After this it is now vital that we have a Government which will be straight with the British public and a government that voters can trust."

Andrew Dakers is Vice-chair of Hounslow Borough Liberal Democrats and former Chair of Brentford Community Council. He works in the Brentford & Isleworth constituency as a Communications and Business Change Adviser.

Commenting on his selection for Brentford & Isleworth Andrew said, "I grew up in Brentford, and I still live and work in the constituency. This is why I am so determined about making Brentford, Isleworth & Chiswick safer, fairer, greener and fundamentally better places to live."

WHAT EXPENSES WOULD KHALSA AND DAKERS CLAIM?

Asked what expenses they would claim if elected as MPs for Feltham & Heston and Brentford & Isleworth, Andrew Dakers said: "Both of us feel this has to be a matter for individual MPs to decide. However neither Satnam nor I would claim any of the £17,669 per annum that husband and wife Alan and Ann Keen MP are each claiming as an 'Additional Costs Allowance'." Andrew went on to say, "Living in our constituencies, just 9 miles from the city centre, we will use public transport to go to work, like most people do."

Satnam added, "As a party we are strongly in favour of the openness these published accounts and expenses provide. The taxpayers should be able to make a judgement whether their MP's performance justify their costs."

Satnam Kaur Khalsa takes over from Andy Darley who fought the last election. Andrew Dakers takes over from Gareth Hartwell.