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| Controversial North West
Euro-MP Chris Davies has won the backing of party members locally to fight
next year's elections to the European Parliament. The Liberal Democrat
MEP, who last year was fined for possession of cannabis after making a
political protest calling for a change in drug laws, was thought by some
to be under threat of deselection.
He has upset some through his outspoken support for British membership of the euro, and for the support he has given to terminally ill patients such as Diane Pretty and Reg Crew to secure medical help to die. But in a postal ballot he has emerged as the outright first choice of Liberal Democrat members across the North West, winning with 53% of all votes in a contest against thirteen other candidates. A former marketing consultant, Chris Davies (48) has had a high profile role in the region ever since he gained a place on Liverpool City Council in 1980 by winning for his party Labour's safest seat in England. He quickly became chairman of the city's housing committee. In 1995 he was elected to the House of Commons for the Pennines seat of Littleborough and Saddleworth in a parliamentary by-election, and four years later became the Liberal Democrats' only North West representative in the European Parliament. He serves as the party's environment spokesman. Lancastrian solicitor Saj Karim could well become the Liberal Democrats' first non-white parliamentarian if the party's hopes of winning at least two of the region's nine Euro seats are realised. A former councillor on Pendle Council, Mr Karim (32) has been chosen as running mate to the MEP and will be spending much time over the next year getting to know other parts of the region. Chairman of the Liberal Democrats' regional party, Dave Smithson, said that the members' ballot had given the party a major boost by ensuring that its election team would be led by two colourful and high profile candidates. He said: "In Chris Davies the party has an outspoken representative who is never afraid to create controversy and stir up political debate. While Saj Karim represents a new young and able generation who are determined that people across the North West can move forward together. "His selection sends out a very important message to all who seek to create divisions in our society where none need exist." The North West region is
a multi-member European Parliamentary constituency currently represented
by 10 MEPs (5 Conservative, 4 Labour, 1 Lib Dem). This is expected to be
reduced to 9 MEPs next year, following enlargement of
The Liberal Democrat team will be as follows: 1 Chris Davies MEP
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ALL YEAR ROUND - NOT JUST AT ELECTION TIME! |