IT'S TIME FOR THE WHOLE ST ALBANS ELECTORATE TO VOTE ON ANNE MAIN'S EXPENSES CLAIMS

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Aug 2009

Commenting on the failed Conservative attempt to deselect Anne Main, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for St Albans Sandy Walkington commented:

"Anne Main may have won a vote amongst a few Tory faithful in the height of holiday season. She will have to face tens of thousands of St Albans voters next year.

"Local residents had already made their anger clear to our canvassers in this year's county council elections.

"Now we learn that a specially commissioned private poll for Conservative Central Office has reinforced the same message. David Cameron's Conservatives concede that the Liberal Democrats will win St Albans at the general election.

"Anne Main is now locked in a vicious civil war with her local and national party. And we still have not heard the conclusions of the inquiry into her expenses by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. Different factions will continue to lob mortar bombs at one another when we need politicians who can give their undivided attention to the big issues facing St Albans.

Fighting the Park Street freight terminal, challenging Labour government plans to dump huge numbers of houses on our green belt, campaigning for adequate primary and secondary school provision - these are the real battles, the ones which really matter to local people.

We cannot have a general election soon enough, it's the only way to clear the air."