Councillor Andrew Mitchell to step down

---

Southfield will appoint new Lib Dem candidate after more than a decade

Councillor Andrew Mitchell has announced he will stand down at the May 2006 local elections.

Cllr Mitchell was first elected for the Liberal Democrats in 1994, having lived in the ward with his wife and three children for 18 years. During that period, he has served as the party’s finance and education spokesman at the Town Hall.

He said, “Over the past couple of years in particular, work commitments have increasingly taken me away from London during the week,”  said Cllr Mitchell. “I have continued to handle a full caseload of constituency work here in Southfield. But I have found it harder and harder to get to Town Hall meetings. From a personal standpoint, too, now is the right time to step down.”

Lib Dem group leader Cllr Harvey Rose said, “Andrew has been a great colleague for the past 11 years. His speeches at council meetings have always commanded respect and he consistently topped the poll in local elections.”

Andrew has pledged his continued support for the work of the Lib Dem team and FOCUS (Liberal Democrat's free sheet).

He notes, “Though we’ve had many successes over the last 12 years, I am concerned about the impact of the tram, runway 3 at Heathrow, and continued cuts to key services. We will all need to work hard to ensure that our quality of life here in Bedford Park and Acton Green is maintained and enhanced.”

Andrew’s successor as Lib Dem prospective candidate for Southfield ward will be chosen by the local party later this year.

October 18, 2005