Clegg will kick start party says Heywood & Middleton candidate

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Heywood and Middleton, Councillor Wera Hobhouse says Nick Clegg will be a great leader and believes that this is an exciting time for the party, saying that the Labour government is suffering one disaster after another and that the Conservatives have failed to capture people's imaginations.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the Lib Dems in Heywood and Middleton, John Heyworth is preparing newsletters for residents on the back of Nick Clegg's leadership victory and says that Clegg's appointment will encourage a drive to gather support for the party in the area.

He said: "The election of Nick Clegg has put wind in our sails and under his leadership, we are moving forward in Heywood and Middleton."

Councillor Wera Hobhouse said of Nick Clegg's appointment: "We have a very talented, energetic and skilled leader in Nick Clegg.

"I know from my recent meeting with Nick Clegg that he is able to engage with all sorts of people that Westminster politicians ignore, the future for the Lib Dems is very much on the up under his leadership."

Last month Labour retained the North Middleton Council seat in a by-election but the Lib Dems believe that a 21.3% swing in their favour shows that the people of Heywood and Middleton want change. The turnout for the by-election was less than 20%.