Lib Dems present their local champ

Adam Hewitt • Published 14 Jan 2010 08:00 0 Comments

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NEWLY-SELECTED Lib Dem candidate Daisy Benson is running as the 'heir to Martin' in Reading West.

The Reading borough councillor, who was chosen by the party faithful at a hustings in Tilehurst on Friday night to contest the seat, refused to criticise the incumbent Labour MP who is standing down at the next election.

She said: "He's been a massive figure and an effective local champion. With the retirement of Martin Salter, a hard-working constituency MP, local people need a new local champion who will stand up for them.

"I'm starting late in this race but I've got loads of energy and I'm confident I'll be able to get my message out there. I want to build on what I have done in Reading over the past four years so I can help more people and change Reading West for the better.

"In particular I plan to campaign for better housing for all, better health services and real action to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour."

Cllr Benson, 31, who is also running for re-election to the council in Redlands ward in east Reading, is a champion of using online resources like Facebook and Twitter to help her campaigns, and also chairs the council's housing, health and community care scrutiny panel.

She said she agreed with the party's new approach outlined by Nick Clegg on Monday to drop expensive spending plans and concentrate on costed core commitments like smaller class sizes, raising the income tax threshold to £10,000 to help poorer workers and a reformed Parliament elected proportionally.

She said: "You can't offer a shopping list of pledges that the country can't afford - I heard what Nick Clegg said and agreed completely."

Cllr Peter Beard, Tilehurst councillor and chairman of Greater Reading Liberal Democrats said: "This is great news for the people of Reading West. Anyone who knows Daisy knows how hard she works for local people. With her energy and enthusiasm I'm confident we can reach out to many new supporters at the next election."

The front-runner in Reading West, Tory candidate Alok Sharma, congratulated Cllr Benson on her selection but said: "She is clearly going to have some busy weeks ahead of the election as she stands in the Reading West parliamentary constituency and seeks to defend her council seat in Reading East."

The other confirmed candidates are Labour's Naz Sarkar, the Greens' Adrian Windisch and UKIP's Bruce Hay.

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