SUE DOUGHTY RESELECTED

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 3rd Dec 2002

Guildford Liberal Democrats have unanimously reselected Sue Doughty MP as their parliamentary candidate for the next General Election.

First elected MP for Guildford at the 2001 General Election, Sue is a member of the Commons Select Committee for Environmental Audit, has regularly challenged the government on its performance in recycling waste, and has chaired a major "Zero Waste" meeting in Westminster. She has repeatedly drawn Ministers' attention to Surrey's housing problems, has strongly opposed Government plans to "dump" thousands of new expensive houses in Guildford's green belt, and is seeking changes in the law to enable more affordable housing to be built. She has also spoken in Parliament on crime, health care, and immigration issues. On the international front, Sue has spoken out against war with Iraq and represented the UK parliament at the World Environmental Conference in Johannesburg.

Sue said "I am delighted that the Guildford Liberal Democrats have placed their confidence in me for a second term, and I hope that my Guildford constituents feel that I continue to represent their interest in Westminster with zeal and dedication. We all know that the Conservative Party is not only unfit for government, but also is incapable of providing an effective opposition, a lead role that Liberal Democrats are increasingly assuming in Parliament. Locally, as the only non-conservative MP in all of Surrey, I am conscious of being the "Surrey One" but I hope that after the next General Election I shall be but one of many Liberal Democrat MPs in this region. Certainly our prospects in neighbouring constituencies such as South West Surrey and Mole Valley, to name but two, have never been brighter, and I am sure our success in Guildford can be repeated elsewhere