Jill Wareham selected as PPC for Isle of Wight

12.19.30pm GMT Wed 12th Mar 2008

"We can win the Island back for the Liberal Democrats" announced Jill Wareham, the new prospective parliamentary candidate for the Lib Dems at the party hustings on March 1st at the Riverside Centre in Newport.

Jill Wareham has lived on the Island for over 23 years. She is married to Martin, a local fisherman and is a mother of three now grown up children. Jill was elected to the Isle of Wight Council, representing Brighstone and Shorwell for the Liberal Democrats in 1993, 1995, 1998 and Brighstone and Calbourne in 2001. Jill rose through the political ranks to become Chair of the Environment Committee and in 2003 the Lead member for Children's Services. She is currently clerk to three school governing bodies and active in voluntary work and fundraising as well as a busy parish councillor and Chair of the IW Liberal Democrats.

After her election she said "I am absolutely delighted to have been selected as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate. It is a great honour for me to represent the Liberal Democrats on the Island and I will do that with all the energy I have.

I believe we can take back the Isle of Wight seat. The Conservatives locally have made such a mess of Council affairs - angering many people over the proposed mass closure of schools; lack of any investment in the roads; increased traffic problems and wasting millions on consultants, the Undercliff enquiry and too many chief officers. Labour nationally appear to be in the doldrums and locally we knocked them into third place at the last by-election in Newport North.

I believe the Isle of Wight needs a strong voice to pursue what the Island rightfully deserves. I will be campaigning on the issues that matter to you; good education for all; good affordable housing; good health services; affordable public transport; environmental issues; good employment opportunities for Islanders; and a good infrastructure which will only come if we can gain Island status."