Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidates Appointed for South West Herts and Hemel Hempstead Constituencies

At every General Election the Liberal Democrats put forward a full list of Parliamentary Candidates. In view of the political turmoil after the close Referendum result and the potentially serious consequences of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union it was judged a possibility that a snap General Election might be called at short notice.

The Party felt it would be prudent to plan for such an eventuality and decided to appoint Parliamentary Candidates for every constituency drawing on the existing pool of approved persons.

The West Herts Local Party comprises two parliamentary constituencies and it can now be announced that the following have been appointed:

Hemel Hempstead Constituency - Mrs Sally Symington from Potten End

South West Hertfordshire Constituency - Dr Christopher Townsend from Tring

These are interim arrangements that will last until May 2017. If a General Election has not been called by then, the appointments will lapse and the party's normal democratic procedures will be re-instated. These will involve advertisements, husting meetings and selection of candidates by a secret ballot among members within each constituency.

We are very grateful to Sally and Christopher for accepting this responsibility at such short notice. Whether there is a general election or not they both deserve, and will receive, our fullest support .

The preamble to the Liberal Democrat Constitution states that:

"The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity."

In their roles as parliamentary candidates Sally and Christopher will give focus to the Party's campaigns to put our principles into practice.

Issued on behalf of the Executive Committee of the West Hertfordshire Liberal Democrat Local Party