Afzal Anwar chosen as Liberal Democrat PPC for Pendle

4.21.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 22nd Jun 2008

"We can win Pendle for the Liberal Democrats" announced the new Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Liberal Democrats, Afzal Anwar, at the party hustings meeting held on the evening of Friday 28th March at Barrowford Civic Centre.

The chairman of Pendle Liberal Democrats, Mary Thomas, said the selection process had now been completed.

We are delighted that Afzal has been selected as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency of Pendle at the next general election. The long process to select a new parliamentary candidate started last November with the formation of a specially trained selection committee. The position was advertised nationally and the candidates were narrowed to three, locally born Barrister Afzal Anwar, Libdem Group leader from Craven, West Yorkshire Paul English, and Cumbrian Councillor Neil Hughes.

Afzal Anwar has lived in Nelson all his life. He is married to Shazia and they have five young children. Afzal practises as a barrister, is based in Nelson, and has been an active Libdem campaigner for more than 10 years. He is presently actively campaigning against the closure of the A&E Department at Burnley General Hospital.

Afzal believes we can win the Pendle seat. Other parties have made such a mess of local affairs - angering many people over the closure of local post offices and a lack of opposition to the closure of the A&E department at Burnley General. After his election Afzal said, "I am absolutely delighted to have been selected as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate. It is a great honour for me to represent the Liberal Democrats in Pendle and I will do that with all the energy I have."

Afzal commented "I will also work to ensure voters understand that the Liberal Democrats offer a real alternative for change. After a decade of inertia, where council tax still cripples the poorest in our society, where mistakes in foreign policy still cost our soldiers their lives, where financial errors are risking recession and massive unemployment, and health care and education are still desperately under funded, it is the Liberal Democrats that offer an alternative vision of a fair and prosperous future where cutting services to save pennies isn't the only choice on the table."

"The Liberal Democrats are the only real challengers to Labour and Gordon Prentice in Pendle, and I look forward to the opportunity of convincing the electorate that they have a real choice."

Pendle Libdem Council Leader, Councillor John David said, "I believe that Afzal will give Pendle a strong voice to pursue what Pendle rightfully deserves. He will be campaigning on the issues that matter to Pendle residents; good education for all, good affordable housing, good health services, affordable public transport, environmental issues, and equality and employment opportunities for Pendle."