South Northamptonshire selects Scott as Parliamentary Candidate

1.08.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 12th Aug 2008

Scott Collins with South Northamptonshire members

Scott Collins has been selected as the Prospective Parliamentary candidate to represent the Liberal Democrats in the new parliamentary constituency of South Northamptonshire.

Scott spent 34 years living and working in the area and knows how much the area has changed over that time. "Until very recently I had lived in Towcester all my life and can see how the area has changed, changes that have been mirrored right across the constituency from Towcester to Brackley and in many villages throughout the area", Scott said, adding "The pressures placed on the constituency by the government's housing expansion targets are already showing the cracks in infrastructure in many communities. Only the Liberal Democrats have the policies and direction to be able to support the communities involved."

The constituency will be fought for the first time under the new boundaries, which see East and West Hunsbury on the edge of Northampton added to the largely rural constituency. The next election also sees the current MP Tim Boswell standing down. Scott is confident the Liberal Democrats will do particularly well. "I feel that this provides the perfect opportunity to demonstrate clearly to the electorate that only the Liberal Democrats can offer a real alternative to a Conservative Party lacking conviction or direction on the future of rural communities and seemingly policy-less at this stage in the parliament".

"We will work hard to make sure that the people of South Northamptonshire are given the information to show them clearly and unequivocally that the Liberal Democrats can make a real difference for the better in South Northamptonshire, and that the Labour Party has shown it is no longer a realistic option to make the changes that the people of South Northamptonshire need if the area is to thrive as a sustainable area providing the services people want and need".

Scott is 38 years old and lives in Kingsthorpe, Northampton, but until 4 Years ago lived in Towcester for 34 Years. He works for a national electricity supplier in Northampton.

Whilst living in Towcester he was a Town Councillor and a Chair of Governors at St Lawrence Church of England School. "My time as a Town Councillor reinforced my belief that decisions that effect communities should be made at the level of government that is nearest and most relevant to that communities future a policy the Liberal Democrats have always felt be best for the electorate"

Scott is currently a Borough Councillor in Northampton and hold the title of "Faith Champion" tasked with increasing the dialogue between faith communities and groups and the council.