Twickenham Liberal Democrats have unanimously re-selected Vincent Cable MP to fight the next General Election in the Twickenham constituency.

10.15.01am GMT Thu 26th Jun 2003

Speaking to a special meeting on Monday evening (23 June) attended by party members, Vince admitted that serving in the second parliament of the Labour "one-party state" was both challenging and frustrating.

But with the government out of tune with so many voters on issues like asylum and immigration, restructuring of public services and relations with the U.S.A., there was a desperate need for a principled and consistent opposition - which the Tories were totally unable to provide.

He told the meeting "I have the energy and commitment for another term. Though the economy is doing relatively well in terms of price stability and low unemployment, there are major clouds on the horizon which Labour are not facing up to: the housing market is wildly inflationary, with a real risk of a collapse in prices leaving many people in debt; taxation alone will not meet the expenditure needs of the public services, government must be able to save money elsewhere to make ends meet; and the Bush/Blair partnership reflects a very one-sided view of the world which may not be in the best interests of the UK in the longer term."

On a personal note, Vince paid tribute to the new lady in his life, who was introducing him to the joys of country life and ballroom dancing - both educational and restorative in their own way.

Guest speaker Simon Hughes MP the Liberal Democrat prospective candidate to fight Ken Livingston for Mayor of London in 2004, had known Vince for many years.

He commended Vince's dedication as a constituency MP and his understanding of how special Twickenham, Teddington, St Margaret's, Whitton, Heathfield and the Hamptons were to local residents. He also praised Vince for his contribution to the Liberal Democrat party nationally: "In Westminster, it is immensely valuable to have MP's like Vince who have seen work and life in the real world before entering parliament. With his economic expertise and intellectual vigour, Vince asks the difficult questions which test the credibility of our policies as well as those of the other parties.

This is essential in a modern democracy, but in Vince's case the questioning is rooted in a philosophical and political commitment to quality public services, community engagement and the right of every individual to be different and to have the liberty to express their difference within our community. He is a true Liberal and a credit to us all in parliament."

Cllr Denise Carr, Chair of the local party, was delighted with the result. "Vince is an incredibly hard working local MP who in six years as our representative in Westminster has earned the respect and admiration of local people of all parties and none.

From Post Office closures to hospital waiting times, from pensions to education, from policing to the needs of small businesses, from cruelty to animals to international affairs, and on many other issues, Vince has used his position in parliament to represent the views and needs of local residents and to campaign on what he believes in.

With Labour in disarray and the Tories in decline, I believe that I and my colleagues have re-selected the present and future MP for Twickenham."

Notes for editors:

1. Vincent Cable was first elected as MP for Twickenham the General Election of 1.5.97 (after 25 years of Conservative representation) with a majority of 4,281.

2. He was re-elected in the General Election of 7.6.01 with an increased majority of 7,655.

3. He is the Liberal Democrat shadow Department of Trade & Industry minister, and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Police Group.