South Suffolk Lib Dems select Parliamentary Candidate

Published on Mon 4th Aug 2008

Liberal Democrats in South Suffolk constituency have chosen former Sudbury Mayor Nigel Bennett as their candidate to fight Tim Yeo at the next election. Mr. Bennett, who is 41 and a teacher, is leader of the 16 strong Liberal Democrat group at Babergh District council and a Sudbury Town councillor. He has two teenage daughters who attend Sudbury Upper School.

Speaking at the selection meeting Mr. Bennett said "Liberal Democrats are the clear challengers to the Conservatives in this constituency and we came second in the 2005 General Election. For the last 15 years Liberal Democrats have had a strong presence in the area and our influence will remain strong. That is in marked contrast to Labour, who now have no District councillors left in the constituency."

He added that the economy was going to be a key issue at the next election, along with affordable housing. "People on fixed incomes, like pensioners, have been sadly neglected by this Government. Increasing council tax bills across the country have eaten into their pensions and rising fuel prices can only add to their problems. The abolition of the 10p tax rate has also hit the lowest paid. How can Labour say that they are a party of social justice when the gap between rich and poor has grown in the last 11 years? And our young people have little hope of being able to afford their own home, or even to find a home they can afford to rent. There is little prospect for improvement under the Conservatives, who are still obsessed with closing and cutting services, as we see here in Suffolk. It was also the Conservatives who cut the earnings link for state pensions. Only the Liberal Democrats can reach out to all sectors of society and offer a real alternative for the people of this area."

Nigel Bennett has been a teacher at Great Cornard Upper School for the last 20 years. He has twice been Mayor of Sudbury, in 2002-03 and 2006-07.

Contact Details: Tel 01787 315710 or 07981404626 email: nigel.a.bennett@googlemail.com

Printed, published and promoted by N Bennett (Liberal Democrats) at 101 Queens Road, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 1PQ.