Lib Dems vote to back Parmjit for the General Election

11.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 1st Oct 2004

Parmjit Singh Gill in Westminster earlier this year

A meeting of Leicester Liberal Democrats voted overwhelmingly to support Parmjit Singh Gill as their candidate for Leicester South in the General Election.

Parmjit, who won the Leicester by-election for the Liberal Democrats in July, overturned Labour's 13,000 majority with a 22% swing, forcing the Tories into a poor third place.

The Lib Dem Agent for the constituency, Andy Stamp, said, "We're definitely backing Parmjit for Leicester, but Labour's members have decided to put Sir Peter Soulsby up again--the man who has already been rejected twice by Leicester voters. The General Election will clearly be a straight contest between Parmjit and the man who famously closed our schools and hugely increased our council tax bills. Everyone knows the Conservatives and Respect can't win here."

The General Election is widely expected to be the 5th May 2005.