West Dorset Liberal Democrats choose their candidate for the next parliamentary election

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 12th Sep 2007

MP Oliver Letwin will face an experienced LibDem challenger when West Dorset next goes to the polls. Dr Sue Farrant was selected by local Party members in a packed Dorchester Town Hall last Saturday.

Born and bred in the Westcountry, Sue was commissioned into the Army after school, reaching the rank of acting captain within a few years. She left to go to Wye College, London University's faculty of agriculture and related studies, where she gained an honours degree in Rural Environment Studies and went on to be awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy for her research into the role of women in the countryside.

Sue is under no illusions about the difficulties faced by people who struggle with the low wages, poor public transport and acute shortage of affordable housing in rural Dorset. "It is scandalous that one and a half thousand households are currently on the housing waiting list in West Dorset. Many, many more people will be in desperate need of affordable housing to rent or to buy but have not bothered to go on the list because they know there is no point. This situation is a direct result of Conservative policies which the Labour government has done nothing to change. We must provide more affordable housing so that we don't lose our young people and our skilled workers to cheaper housing areas."

An active Liberal Democrat campaigner since 1991, Sue is looking forward to fighting this highly marginal seat at the next election. "The Liberal Democrats are continuing to grow in strength in West Dorset. I look forward to building on our success last May when we gained four council seats from the Conservatives," she said.

When not involved in politics, Sue enjoys hill walking, the visual arts and listening to jazz and classical music. She has two adult children, Ben and Bryony, who live and work in London.