Resign Now, demand Liberal Democrats (Surrey Heath Liberal Democrats

Surrey Heath Liberal Democrats - working for you, for a better future <info@surreyheathlibdems.org.uk>

Resign Now, demand Liberal Democrats

April 9, 2004 8:14 AM

Nick Hawkins Should Resign at Once

Conservative MP Nick Hawkins should resign immediately following his de-selection by members of the Surrey Heath Conservative party, say local Liberal Democrats.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Rosalyn Harper said, "It is virtually unknown for a sitting Tory MP to be rejected by his own party who obviously believe he is totally unfit for the role. Having the lost the confidence of his own supporters, why should Surrey Heath residents have to put up with - to quote a prominent local Tory - a 'lame chicken' as an MP?"

The local Conservative party will now begin the process of selecting a new candidate for the next General Election. At the same time, Mr Hawkins will apparently continue to sit as Surrey Heath MP.

Rosalyn Harper added, "Nick Hawkins will receive no support at all from the Tory Executive and members who selected him in 1997 and AGAIN in 2001. Not only will he continue - according to his own Party - to be a hopeless MP - but the same group who picked him TWICE will then be selecting a replacement. How can this have any credibility at all?"

Mr Hawkin's current majority is under 11,000, the Conservatives having once held the seat by a nearly 30,000 majority. The main challengers are the Liberal Democrats who added 7 new seats to their Group on Surrey Heath Borough Council last year and now look capable of running the Conservatives very close in the Parliamentary election.