Lib Dems Select McBride for Orpington

8.07.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 8th Jul 2007

Orpington Liberal Democrats have selected local Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr David McBride as their parliamentary candidate for Orpington at the next General Election.

Members at a packed hustings meeting selected the 33 year old Cray Valley East councillor after hearing him promise to act as a "champion" for local people and local issues and to stand up for Orpington against the Labour Government and Tory Council.

"Orpington matters to me - it is my home town," said Cllr McBride. "It is an honour to be chosen by my party as their parliamentary candidate. I am delighted to be selected and look forward to the hard campaigning ahead."

Orpington Liberal Democrat Chair, Grace Goodlad, welcomed the news. "David has a strong reputation as a hardworking local councillor who fights hard for his area. He is exactly the sort of candidate we need to get our message across to the voters of Orpington. I have no doubt at all that he will fight very hard to champion Orpington and its residents."