LIB DEM CANDIDATE SELECTED FOR WYRE FOREST

8.30.00pm GMT Fri 29th Feb 2008

Cllrs Helen and Peter Dyke, PPC Neville Farmer and Chair Samantha Walker

Former King Charles I student, Neville Farmer has been selected as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Wyre Forest. The 48 year old journalist and television producer grew up in Franche and is the son of the former Conservative councillor and Mayor, Tony MacKenzie-Farmer. He was elected by the party membership at the Kidderminster Harriers Supporters Club on 25th of February and was immediately endorsed by the Wyre Forest Liberal Party. Mr Farmer will be the first Lib Dem to fight for the Wyre Forest seat since the party stepped aside and endorsed Dr Richard Taylor's bid in 2001.

"Dr Taylor has been a superb Member of Parliament and his election for two terms showed that the people of Wyre Forest are prepared to vote against the grain," says Neville Farmer. "But I believe it's time to move on from single issue politics and to deal with issues such as poverty, crime, the environment and education, as well as health - on which the Lib Dems and Dr Taylor see pretty well eye to eye. That takes a party with national influence and parliamentary influence. With over 60 MPs and a reputation for common sense, the Lib Dems are the natural choice to make this change in Wyre Forest politics."

For the past few years, Neville Farmer has divided his time between working with the Liberal Democrats, including writing party policy on the provision of clean water and sanitation to developing countries, and a career in television, journalism and music. His work has taken him around the world and has included producing the award winning television travel series, "Globe Trekker", writing a best-selling music book and contributing to the New York Times, The Daily Express and numerous magazines.

" Like many of my school friends, I had to leave Kidderminster to find a decent career thanks to the 'monoculture' education policies of the local Conservatives under Sir Tatton Brinton MP," Neville continues. "Then the Thatcher years shattered the carpet industry and thousands were left with nothing to do. That memory has always stuck with me and if I'm elected, I will do my best to ensure that no Wyre Forest child fails to get a fair chance in life."

With possibly two years until the next election, Neville Farmer will be working closely with Lib Dem councillors, Peter and Helen Dyke and council candidates, Vicky Dixon, Samantha Walker and Adrian Beavis to get the Lib Dem message across. "Nick Clegg's 'Pupil Premium' and the replacement of the unfair council tax with a local income tax will ensure that Wyre Forest money is spent by Wyre Forest people on our schools, roads, policing and hospitals, rather than trickled out from the central Labour government," he says. "With policies like these, I'm proud to represent the party that offers a genuinely fairer, simpler, greener and more intelligent choice for Wyre Forest voters."

Neville Farmer can be contacted via the Wyre Forest Liberal Democrat website at www.wyreforestlibdems.org.uk