Andy Darley selected to fight Feltham & Heston at General Election for Liberal Democrats

12.00.00am GMT Mon 12th Feb 2001

Liberal Democrats in Feltham and Heston have chosen communications consultant Andy Darley as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.

The 32-year-old is a former news reporter who now freelances in journalism, public relations, and internet design and upkeep.

Andy lives in Feltham - where his battered but beloved red Triumph Spitfire is a familiar sight - and narrowly missed election to Hounslow Council in 1998 after a 2am recount left him just five votes short of victory in Feltham South.

He is Feltham Lib Dem vice-chair and also serves as Hounslow press officer and webmaster. He is currently developing what will be one of the best volunteer-designed political websites in the country when it is completed shortly.

With Feltham Young Offenders Institute in his constituency, and as the victim of a vicious assault for which two youths are in custody awaiting sentencing, Andy is particularly interested in law and order issues.

During the campaign he hopes to build on the success of the Lib Dems in October's Bedfont by-election, where the party snatched a seat from Labour on a 15% swing.

Andy said:

"During the by-election many residents told me they felt let down by Labour, but had total contempt for William Hague.

"However they were impressed by the way Liberal Democrat councillors are providing the only opposition to Labour in this area, where the Conservatives have been wiped out on the ground.

"I am confident that this local hard work, combined with our strong policies supporting public services and our honesty over taxation, will draw more people than ever before into my campaign."