Third Place Tories Choose man from Brussels

Commenting on the selection by the Conservatives of Chris Heaton-Harris MEP, Stuart Bray the Lib Dem Agent for Leicester South said:

"Although with just two councillors the Conservatives are out of the race, local Tories must still be disappointed not to have be given the high profile candidate they were promised to fight this seat.

"Just last week Chris Heaton-Harris was telling the Leicester Mercury that he wouldn't be the candidate and that the Conservatives wanted to field 'a local celebrity candidate, possibly from the world of sport'. It is clear that knowing the Conservatives will come third, nobody was willing to stand in a no hope contest for them.

"Instead the Tories have been reduced to standing one of their MEP's who already has a full time job in Brussels."

Local Lib Dem MEP for Leicester Bill Newton-Dunn said:

"Many local residents will be appalled that just a week after being elected to serve the people of Leicestershire as their Euro MP, Chris Heaton-Harris is turning his back on them."