St Austell and Newquay select Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 4th Jul 2007

Stephen Gilbert, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for St Austell & Newquay

Local man Stephen Gilbert has been announced as the Lib Dem's choice to run for the new St Austell & Newquay seat in the next General Election - winning nearly three times as many votes as his closest rival.

The next General Election, expected anytime between now and 2010, will see Cornwall split into six seats rather than five as the boundaries for the county's parliamentary constituencies are redrawn. Matthew Taylor MP's recent decision to stand down at the next election as representative for Truro & St Austell after twenty years means that the Liberal Democrats are selecting new parliamentary candidates to fight for both the St Austell & Newquay and the Truro & Falmouth seats.

Following a vote count tonight, thirty year old Stephen Gilbert, a business consultant born and bred in the heart of Cornwall, was overwhelmingly elected by the St Austell and Newquay Liberal Democrat members as their candidate for the next election.

Commenting, Mr Gilbert said:

"I am absolutely over the moon. I was up against a strong line up, and it is a real vote of confidence to have been chosen to represent the Liberal Democrats in my home community. My first priority is going to be affordable housing for local people - I know how hard it is for local young people to get on the property ladder. I also want to join the hardworking Cornish Lib Dem team in Parliament to fight for a fair funding deal for the Cornish NHS, and to put right the damage done to our local hospitals by successive Labour and Conservative governments. You can also expect to see me out on the doorstep campaigning to save our post offices and lower our water bills - and in the tradition of cornish liberals like David Penhaligon and Matthew Taylor doing my best to help every single constituent irrespective of party politics."

Mr Gilbert spent his childhood and teenage years in St Austell and Fowey, before going on to study International Politics at University.

Giving his strong support for Mr Gilbert's selection, St.Austell's present MP Matthew Taylor MP (who will stand down at the next election following the birth of his son, Arthur, last November), said:

"Stephen is an excellent choice and will do the people of St Austell & Newquay - and indeed Cornwall - proud. I will be working closely with him in the lead up to the next election and I know he will prove an invaluable voice for Cornwall."

Dan Rogerson, who as MP for North Cornwall represents Newquay on the existing constituency boundaries, said he looks forward to working with Stephen as a team for Newquay until the General Election:

"As a local candidate who grew up in this community, Stephen not only understands but has experienced many of the problems affecting people here. He has a formidable reputation as a campaigner for Cornwall, and I am look forward to working with him to deliver a fair deal for everyone in the new St.Austell and Newquay constituency."

After completing his studies Mr Gilbert worked for the then local Liberal Democrat MEP, Robin Teverson, helping with the county's successful bid for Objective One funding from Europe. During that time, at just 21 years old, he was also elected to represent St Blazey on Restormel Borough Council, a seat previously held by Labour.

As a local business consultant Mr Gilbert has worked with a wide range of Cornish businesses, helping them grow and prosper.

MP for South East Cornwall Colin Breed, whose Fowey, Tywardreath and St Blaise wards will be included with the new St Austell & Newquay seat, also voiced his support for the selection:

"This is a positive and ambitious choice for Cornwall that puts the Liberal Democrats in a strong position to win the new seat at the first opportunity. I look forward to welcoming Stephen into the team, I am sure he will prove to be an indispensable asset to Cornwall."