LIBERAL DEMOCRATS FIELD MOST BME CANDIDATES

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 20th Apr 2005

The Liberal Democrats will field more Black and Minority Ethnic candidates in the coming general election than either of the other main parties.

There will be 40 BME Liberal Democrat candidates compared with 39 for the Conservatives and just 29 for Labour. BME Liberal Democrat candidates will be standing in seats across the country from leafy Conservative held Mole Valley (Nasser Butt) to inner city seats such as Vauxhall (Charles Anglin).

Commenting, Sam Potts, said:

"I am very pleased we have so many excellent Black and Minority Ethnic candidates standing in this general election. It shows our commitment to ensuring political representation and participation by BME communities is coming to fruition.

"We now have the highest number of BME candidates in the election and are also seeing a surge in support among BME voters. There is currently a recognisable shift in the support of BME communities from Labour and the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats."

ENDS