GUILDFORD MP WELCOMES LIB DEM BY-ELECTION WINNER TO PARTY

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 14th Oct 2003

Sue Doughty MP was outside the Houses of Parliament to greet victorious Lib Dem by-election winner, Sarah Teather MP, as she arrived to take her seat today for the first time.

Sue Said:

"I am delighted to be joined by Sarah on the Lib Dem benches. Her election in the inner London constituency, Brent East, shows that there are not any 'no go' areas for the Lib Dems.

"My victory over the Tories in Guildford at the last general election surprised many people. But under Ian Duncan-Smith people are no longer asking if the Tories are fit for government, but if they are even fit to be the opposition.

"Sarah's victory shows that whether you are in Surrey or an inner city area, the Lib Dems are now the effective opposition. We are winning new support from both a Tory party that is tearing itself apart, and a Labour Government that has lost peoples trust."