Lib Dems chose local businessman and councillor to fight new seat

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd May 2007

Lewisham West & Penge PPC Alex Feakes

The Liberal Democrats have selected Forest Hill councillor and resident Alex Feakes as the prospective parliamentary candidate for the new Lewisham West & Penge constituency at the next general election. The new seat is formed of four wards from the old Lewisham West constituency and three from the old Beckenham constituency.

Alex commented: "I'm delighted to be chosen to fight this seat for the Lib Dems. Recent successes locally show that the Lib Dems are a growing force and well placed to challenge Labour at the next general election.

"The people of Lewisham West & Penge desire a change, and want better results on crime, housing, education and the environment. The Lib Dems are best placed to deliver this.

"The Lib Dems are the clear challengers to Labour; the Tories can't win here."

Alex runs a local film & video production business and has produced a number of award and nomination winning short films; and is also a governor of Sydenham School and Trustee of Lewisham Parochial Charities. On Lewisham Council, Alex's work includes chairing the Public Accounts Committee and sitting on the Healthier Communities Committee.

Alex has previously fought both ancestor constituencies, coming third in Beckenham in 2001 and second in Lewisham West in 2005. There are 12 Labour councillors, 7 Lib Dem councillors and 1 Conservative councillor representing wards in the new constituency.

Notional results for the new constituency calculated by Michael Rawlings and Colin Thrasher of the local elections group at Plymouth University, and based on the 2005 general election results and 2006 local election results, show the Lib Dems are the clear challengers to Labour in this seat:

Labour 18,801 (46.28%)

Liberal Democrats 11,022 (27.13%)

Conservatives 8,787 (21.63%)

Others 2,018 (4.57%)