Hughes to stand for Lib Dem President

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Jun 2004

Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, today announced that he will be a candidate in the forthcoming election for the new President of the Liberal Democrats.

Simon is currently Liberal Democrat spokesman for London and until recently was his party's Shadow Home Secretary. He was first elected in 1983 and has been re-elected five times since then. He will submit his nomination next week to succeed Lord Dholakia, who will in September complete the maximum permitted period of 4 years in office.

Simon Hughes said today:

"After this month's European, London and local elections I was approached to put my name forward to be the new Liberal Democrat President. Encouraged by support from inside and outside parliament, I have agreed to stand.

"More than two thirds of my Liberal Democrat colleagues in the House of Commons have already committed their support, as have many party members in England, Scotland and Wales. My local party officers in Southwark have also pledged their backing.

"My immediate priority is to do all I can to help in the campaigns in Leicester South and Birmingham Hodge Hill to elect two more Liberal Democrat MPs to parliament. I shall be in Leicester on Sunday, and also in Birmingham in the next few days.

"My reasons for standing to be Liberal Democrat President are simple. I believe passionately in liberalism and liberal democracy. More and more parts of Britain now have Liberal Democrat leadership. I want to use my energy, enthusiasm and experience to help turn my party's campaign for liberal democracy into a crusade.

"My party and Charles Kennedy, my party's leader, have my enthusiastic and unequivocal loyalty and support. Everything I do as President will be driven by my wish for liberal democracy, for our party, and for Charles as our Leader, to have maximum success in the years ahead. Our joint ambition is nothing less than to build on our continuing strength and success and to become the government of Britain."

For more information please visit Simon's campaign site www.votesimon.org.uk