South Suffolk Lib Dems select Kathy Pollard

2.12.00pm GMT Mon 17th Jan 2005

Kathy Pollard is the Lib Dem voice in South Suffolk

South Suffolk Liberal Democrats have again selected Kathy Pollard to fight the next General Election. Mrs. Pollard has fought the seat twice before, in 1992 and 1997, both times increasing the Liberal Democrat vote. In last year's District council elections the party gained 42% of the vote and 18 councillors - the largest group on the council. Conservatives have 11, Independents 8 and Labour 6.

Speaking after her selection Mrs. Pollard said "This time it is quite clear that the Liberal Democrats are the challengers to the Conservatives in South Suffolk. Labour came 4th last year. Voters face a choice of a local candidate whose roots are well and truly in the constituency, a Labour candidate from London or Michael Howard's Conservative. Nationally more and more people are turning to the Liberal Democrats, as witnessed in the four most recent Parliamentary by-elections."

Amongst Mrs. Pollard's priorities for the constituency are

• To press for a pledge from the Strategic Health Authority that they will not leave Sudbury without a hospital.

• Road improvements, including safety measures throughout the constituency including the Copdock Mill interchange.

• Retention of the Sudbury to Marks Tey rail link.

• Continue to oppose the building of an extra runway at Stansted, which would give the capacity for more air traffic than Heathrow and increase overflying.

• Improved public transport.

• Reinstatement of the Sudbury Western bypass in the government's road building programme.

• More affordable housing.

• Support for street wardens and more police officers.

Her national priorities are:

• Get rid of council tax and replace it with a fairer system, based on the ability to pay.

• Free personal care for older people.

• Scrap tuition and top up fees.

• Free off peak local transport for all pensioners and disabled people.

Biographical details

Political: Kathy Pollard has been a member of Suffolk County Council's Executive committee for the last 5 years and stood as a candidate in the European elections in June. She has been a councillor since 1987 and a Parliamentary candidate for South Suffolk in 1992 and 1997, gaining nearly 28% of the vote in 1997.

Personal: Mrs. Pollard has a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and formerly worked at BT's Research and Development Labs at Martlesham. She has lived in the constituency for 26 years. She is married to Derek and they have two daughters.