The Liberal Democrats have selected local man Nigel Bakhai to contest the parliamentary by-election contest in Ealing Southall. Mr Bakhai has praised the multicultural nature of his local community. The by-election contest was triggered following the death of Labour MP Piara Khabra. The Liberal Democrats are the main challengers to Labour in the seat, having finished second at the last General Election. Nigel Bakhai doubled the Liberal Democrat vote at the 2005 General Election.

Commenting, Mr Nigel Bakhai said: “Living in the heart of the constituency, I know the issues that local people face. Labour has taken our area for granted for far too long.

“This election is about local people electing the best MP to represent our area.

“Ealing Southall is a diverse place - truly representative of modern, multicultural Britain.

“With Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims rubbing shoulders with people from everywhere from Somalia to Poland, it is vital that we have an MP who will speak out for the whole community.

“People here want to know why our streets aren’t safe, why the local NHS is in deficit and why the Government has squandered millions on the illegal war in Iraq. On all these issues it is the Liberal Democrats who are taking the fight to Labour here in Ealing and Southall.”

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Chief Executive, Lord (Chris) Rennard said: “Nigel is a first class candidate and a very experienced local campaigner. The Liberal Democrats are the main challengers in this seat. We were second at the last General Election when our vote doubled.

“Labour knows this and are running scared. They have called this by-election at extremely short notice because they know that the Liberal Democrats are the main threat.

“Many Liberal Democrat MPs have already been out campaigning in the constituency. Menzies Campbell is set to visit Ealing Southall several times in the next few weeks to take the fight to Labour.”

ABOUT NIGEL BAKHAI

Nigel Bakhai lives in Hanwell, in the heart of the constituency, having first moved into the seat in 1994. Nigel’s father was an immigrant to the UK of Gujarati origin.

He is the chair of the Hanwell Steering Group. The Steering Group offers an ‘umbrella’ to many local residents’ organisations, conservation groups, individual residents, traders and local business people. The Group aims to raise the profile of Hanwell, promoting improvements and encouraging revitalisation.

Nigel is Chair of the Elthorne Safer Neighbourhood Focus Group and Vice Chair of the Greenfields Children’s Centre in Southall.

In 2005, Nigel Bakhai stood for election in Ealing Southall, more than doubling the Liberal Democrat vote and taking the party into second place. He has a BSC in Politics and History from the University of Bradford and a MA in International Relations from the University of Nottingham. He works as an Equipment Demand Planner for Xerox in Uxbridge.