Paddy Ashdown backs Stephen to win

9.43.23am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Oct 2009

Former Lib Dem party leader Paddy Ashdown has given his support for Stephen Lloyd to be Eastbourne & Willingdon's next MP.

Speaking at the Lib Dem's recent annual dinner, Paddy said, "I have been delighted to come back to Eastbourne and see for myself the hard work Stephen Lloyd and the Lib Dems are doing on behalf of local people."

Paddy was the party leader during the famous Eastbourne by-election in 1990, when the Lib Dems won the seat from the Conservatives. Almost twenty years on, the Lib Dems could win Eastbourne again at the next General Election.

Paddy added, "Stephen and his team are already working hard for local people. Just think what Stephen could do if he is elected as your Member of Parliament at the General Election next year."

"Labour are out of the race locally and Gordon Brown is finished nationally. That means the only question local people need to answer is, who is the best person to be Eastbourne's MP? It's clear to me that person is Stephen Lloyd."