National News
Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne welcomes Labour opponent to Lib Dem membership
Sunday 3 May 2009
Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne today welcomed his former Labour opponent Dan Clarke to membership of the Liberal Democrats.
In a dramatic move, the adopted Labour candidate in Eastleigh threw in his lot with the Liberal Democrats and said it was a two-horse race in the key marginal constituency which ranks as the Conservative's eleventh target across the country.
"Eastleigh is a two horse race between Chris who has a proven record as a progressive politician and a hard worker for Eastleigh or Maria Hutchings, who - whatever her personal qualities - supports right wing reactionary policies on Europe, immigration and local issues," said Dan Clarke on the Labour blog Labourhome.
He continued "I want to see greater social justice, more care taken over the environment and greater equality of opportunities. In my view, the Labour Party is no longer the party which seeks to achieve my ideals. I will leave the Labour Party and I am joining the Liberal Democrats. At the next election I will back Chris Huhne. I want to be a political activist who works for what is right. I have concluded that joining the Liberal Democrats will allow me to do this. Time and again, I have found myself thinking that Chris Huhne is right on issues as varied as Trident, Climate Change, the economy and civil liberties whilst the government is wrong on them".
"I am delighted to welcome Dan Clarke as a member of the Liberal Democrats. He is a thoughtful and committed individual who cares deeply about creating a fair and sustainable society that only the Liberal Democrats can and will deliver," said Chris Huhne. "Eastleigh is a key battleground seat where the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives are neck and neck, and my majority last time was just 568 votes. It is clear that Labour cannot win here".
Liberal Democrat council leader Keith House said: "Dan Clarke will be a welcome asset to Eastleigh Liberal Democrats and to our work to make our area better for all its residents".