Lib Dem Kingsley chosen to fight Rifkind

1.03.15pm GMT Mon 17th Jan 2005

Jennifer Kingsley will take the fight to Rifkind

Jennifer Kingsley has been selected by the Kensington and Chelsea Liberal Democrats to be the party's Parliamentary Candidate at the forthcoming General Election.

Kingsley, who secured 73% of members' votes in the selection process, will be standing against Conservative Malcolm Rifkind in the high-profile London constituency, which is currently represented by Michael Portillo. Mr. Portillo is standing down at the next election to concentrate on his media career.

Commenting on her selection, Jennifer Kingsley, who is currently a councillor for the party in the Cremorne ward of Kensington and Chelsea, said:

"I am thrilled and honoured to have been chosen by my party to stand against Malcolm Rifkind at the next election. As a local councillor and resident of many years standing, I will be putting local issues at the heart of my campaign, particularly in relation to crime and housing and also the congestion charge, which the Liberal Democrats do not want to see extended into Kensington and Chelsea.

"But I shall be fighting on a national platform too. Tony Blair has disgraced his government and his Labour party by fighting an illegal war at the beck and call of George Bush. Meanwhile, Michael Howard has flip flopped at every possible opportunity, supporting the war at first and then easing off his support when he realised the political wind was blowing against him.

"On local and national issues alike, only the Liberal Democrats have the rational, non-ideological and honest policies to connect with voters and I relish the opportunity to increase Liberal Democrat support in my home patch."

Lord Goodhart, the party's spokesman in the Lords on Constitutional Affairs and President of the Kensington and Chelsea Liberal Democrats, said:

"As a former parliamentary candidate for the old Kensington constituency, I am delighted that Jenny Kingsley has been selected as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Kensington and Chelsea. Her energy, enthusiasm and commitment and the courage she has shown as the only Liberal Democrat councillor in Kensington and Chelsea make her an outstanding choice."

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, a former Chair of the Kensington and Chelsea Liberal Democrats and the party's parliamentary candidate in 2001, said:

"Jenny's selection is evidence that the Lib Dems expect to offer a real choice to voters in Kensington and Chelsea. Jenny's record is well known and her numerous roles here as a local councillor, Westminster school governor and campaigner for a myriad of causes place her among one of the highest calibre candidates in London. At a time when trust is such a potent issue, it is really good to see people of such integrity coming forward and I wish her every success."

Simon Hughes MP, President of the Liberal Democrats, added his warm wishes and commented:

"Liberal Democrats nationally congratulate Jennifer Kingsley on her selection as our new candidate for Kensington and Chelsea. As a local resident, local councillor and local activist, Jenny is very well qualified to know what Kensington and Chelsea needs.

"Jenny is not a candidate who has just moved here for an election. Jenny is someone well rooted in this vibrant community, who will speak with authority and fight with determination."