THE Stratford Liberal Democrats have announced their prospective parliamentary candidate to go up against Nadhim Zahawi at the next general election in 2015.

Local campaigner Elizabeth Adams was voted in unanimously by Stratford and South Warwickshire Liberal Democrat party members after many years of campaigning on local and national issues.

Speaking after she was chosen, Ms Adams said: “I feel honoured that local members have chosen me to run for election as the next Member of Parliament for Stratford-upon-Avon in 2015. As someone who lives locally and uses the same services that other residents use day in, day out, I understand the issues and concerns facing local people. I look forward to working with our Liberal Democrat councillors to build a stronger economy and fairer society.

“The Conservatives have left us without a local plan in place to protect our towns and villages here in south Warwickshire. The bill being footed by taxpayers, for consultants and planning appeals, is increasing in the hundreds of thousands whilst developers are taking advantage. Residents are being left with less and less power to prevent inappropriate development. The local Conservatives voted against Liberal Democrat pleas to put resources into getting a plan in place whilst nationally David Cameron is rolling out the red carpet for developers and fracking companies. Together this threatens the local character of our communities and puts at risk local services that will come under more strain.”

Elizabeth is known nationally in the party for her dedicated campaigning to tackle and prevent domestic abuse, successfully creating new party policy at their conference in 2013, and calling for a new set of proposals to fight sexual and domestic violence, including a national government awareness campaign for workplace safety.

Local Liberal Democrat party chair, John Barrett added: “Elizabeth represents a great choice for local residents when they come to cast their vote at the general election next year.

“Elizabeth has already hit the ground running and is out knocking on doors and listening to what issues really matter to residents across Stratford and our many towns and villages.”