NEW LIB DEM CANDIDATE FOR THURROCK SELECTED

2.50.00pm GMT Sun 17th Jan 2010

Thurrock Liberal Democrats are pleased to announce the selection of Carys Davis as their parliamentary candidate.

Carys has worked for the Liberal Democrats as a policy adviser and now works in parliamentary relations for a national charity. Carys has a BSc degree in Sociology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism and a Masters Degree in Human Rights. Outside of politics she enjoys cinema and charity sports events, having raised several hundred pounds for Cancer Research UK in recent years.

Carys said, "My priorities are improving healthcare provision, and calling for long term investment in young people in Thurrock, boosting skills and qualifications to enable them to enjoy new job opportunities opening up in the area."

"With cuts in spending proposed by both Labour and the Tories, I want to ensure that the much-needed community hospital in Grays goes ahead, to provide vital local services."

"With levels of skills and qualifications in Thurrock lower than East of England and national levels, I want to ensure that local people are equipped to enjoy the new job opportunities created by investment in the area."

On her selection, Carys has pledged not to claim an allowance for a second home if elected, despite new rules ensuring that the second home allowance is still available to the Thurrock MP.

Carys said, "We all felt let down by MPs taking advantage of the expenses system. If I'm elected as MP for Thurrock, I will not claim for a second home in London. This will save taxpayers around £13,000 per year. If residents in Grays and surrounds can commute to London every day, so should I.

"MPs should be much more accountable to those who choose them. Liberal Democrats would reform the system, bringing in the fairer voting system of proportional representation so your votes count for more. We'd give people the right to sack their MP if he or she breaks the rules.

"The economy stands alongside political reform as key priorities for us. We want to offer real help to the millions of families trying to make ends meet, so we will get wasteful government spending under control and give the economy a boost by cutting taxes for people from the bottom up. We will raise the income tax threshold to £10,000, putting on average £700 a year back into the pockets of low and middle income earners. Those earning under £10,000 will be brought out of tax altogether. We will pay for this by cracking down on big businesses and the super rich who exploit tax loopholes and do not pay their fair share."

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