Richard Burt selected in West Worcestershire

10.08.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 18th Jun 2006

Richard Burt is congratulated by the Chairman of West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats, Charles Tucker (right) following his selection as parliamentary candidate last Saturday. Looking on are Richard’s wife Lorely, who is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Solihull, and David Houghton-Smith, Party Secretary.

Last night Richard Burt was selected as the Liberal Democrat Candidate for the next General Election in Worcestershire West, beating off tough competition from Liz Leffman and Chris Coleman.

Worcestershire West is a top target for the Liberal Democrats in the next General Election. The Conservatives are defending a majority of 2,475 and the current MP, Sir Michael Spicer, has already announced he will be standing down.

The 2005 result was as follows:

Sir Michael Spicer, Conservative 20,959 votes - 45.4%

Tom Wells, Liberal Democrat 18,484 votes - 40.0%

Qamar Bhatti, Labour 4,945 votes - 10.7%

Caroline Bovey, UK Independence Party 1,590 votes - 3.4%

Malcolm Victory, Green Party 199 votes - 0.4%

Conservative majority: 2,475 votes

Turnout: 68.9 %

I know Richard well, he is a fantastic campaigner and I have high hopes that we will now take Worcestershire West at the next General Election and will work to ensure that we do.

Richard has already pledged to join the fight against damaging health service cuts across South Worcestershire by taking up the matter with Ministers. Upon winning Richard said "I am delighted to have been selected to fight this seat at the next General Election, and will devote all my time between now and then to campaigning hard on issues that matter most to people in West Worcestershire. The financial crisis that has led to cuts in vital health services and the loss of hundreds of NHS jobs locally follows record investment in the NHS, and is a damning indictment of government policy. Ministers must understand that the financial regime they have imposed on NHS Trusts is leading to death by a thousand cuts in many areas."