Lib Dems hunt for new challenger after candidate quits

Newsdesk • Published 20 Aug 2009 11:51 5 Comments

Share this

THE Liberal Democrats today launched a search for a new General Election candidate for the Reading West constituency after hopeful Patrick Murray dropped out of the fight.

Mr Murray has been the Lib Dems' prospective candidate since November 2007 and is acknowledged as an authoritative voice on housing issues and the problems of the homeless, who sits on Oxford City Council.

The 29-year-old said today: "I have enjoyed working with colleagues and local residents over the last few years. However, as I live and work in Oxford I have found that I have not been able to give as much of my time to the residents of Reading West as I should have liked.

"I am resigning now in order to allow the local Liberal Democrats time to select a candidate who can take the fight to Labour and the Tories and offer the voters of Reading West a real choice at the next election."

Greater Reading Liberal Democrats chairman Coling Lawley said: "It is with deep regret that I have accepted Patrick's resignation. He has been an excellent campaigner, especially on housing issues, and we will miss him. I respect his decision to resign now and give us the opportunity to select another PPC in good time before the next General Election."

Gareth Epps, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate in the Reading East seat, said: "Patrick and I have known each other for some years and it is typical of the man that he thinks of the residents of Reading first and foremost. He realises that he is not able to put in the time that he would like to devote to local issues so has honourably resigned."

The Reading West seat has been held by Labour's Martin Salter since 1997 but he is standing down at the next election.

Alok Sharma has been installed as the Conservative prospective candidate for more than three years, while schoolteacher Naz Sarkar was selected by Labour in June.

Mr Sarkar said: "It's irrelevant who the Lib Dems put up at the next election, which is a straight fight between Labour and Tories. He's done the sensible thing and withdrawn rather than face coming third no matter what he did."

The next general election must be held some time before June.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

sam
Unregistered User
Aug 20, 19:43
Report comment

I say we draft Beard!

Peter! Peter! Peter! Oi! Oi! Oi!

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Cllr Tony Jones
Unregistered User
Aug 21, 13:00
Report comment

It has been the opinion of many for a while now that Conservative Alok Sharma is a certain winner in Reading West come the next general election. National opinion polls and local events have certainly being going his way for some time now. Alok is certainly a nice enough chap and has also upped his game recently.

It is also clear that more people believe that Labour's Naz Sarkar hasn't any chance of winning - even before he proved to be the walking, talking gaffe machine he is now seen as. Many disheartened Labour members are now saying "Martin might have just hung on ... but not Naz".

Now with the LibDems losing their candidate for the Reading West parliamentary seat Alok looks even more a "Shoo in" (*)

I think the residents of Reading West need a clear choice when the election arrives. There's hardly a difference between the national policies of Labour and the Tories: one party's "savings" are the other's "cuts" and so the "yah-boo" party politics continue.

The real alternative to the prospect of another Conservative MP can only be a local independent not aligned to any national party machine - as all the others are, including UKIP and the Greens.

So how much do Labour and the rest want to see Reading West in Tory hands?

If they all stand candidates, it's odds on that will be the outcome. Have they the guts to stand down their people and allow a straight fight, a clear choice, a real alternative on election day?

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Adrian Windisch
Unregistered User
Aug 21, 21:18
Report comment

I always thought he was an odd choice, he lives works and campaigns in Oxford. Maybe they will get someone more local next time.

First Salter, now Murray, what is happening?

http://greenreading.blogspot.com/2009/08/libdem-reading-west-ppc-patrick-murray.html

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Unregistered User
Aug 21, 21:45
Report comment

What Reading requires are quality candidates who are prepared to work for the people of the town and not for a party. It is all a matter of commonsense.

It would be excellent if there were some good independent candidates to challenge the mediocrity that party systems deliver.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Anthony
Unregistered User
Aug 27, 15:05
Report comment

What nonsense from Guest above. Independent candidates are no more likely to work for the people of a town than other candidates.

A candidate from a political party is at least standing on a platform and will be in either Government or opposition. You actually have something to base your vote on.

You never know what an independent candidate actually stands for.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle