Councillor Andy Kelly selected as Liberal Democrat 2015 General Election candidate

Cllr Andy Kelly

Councillor Andy Kelly has been selected to stand as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Rochdale in the 2015 General Election.

Speaking to Rochdale Online, Councillor Kelly said: “I am extremely proud and privileged to have been selected. I am not just saying that either. I am Rochdale born and bred so I am very proud that my party has voted for me to stand.”

When asked about his decision to stand for selection, Councillor Kelly admitted it wasn’t an easy decision to make. He said: “No it wasn’t an easy decision to make. It is a lot of commitment and I do think it is going to be a hard battle.”

The date of the next general election is set for 7 May 2015 and will see Councillor Kelly go up against current Rochdale MP, Labour's Simon Danczuk.

Mr Danczuk pulled off a major surprise at the last General Election beating incumbent Paul Rowen against the national trend and a backdrop of discontent with the then Labour Government of Gordon Brown.

Councillor Kelly will have his work cut out to pull off a similar surprise. Firstly, due to the discontent with the Lib Dem coalition with the Conservatives, and their record in government, and secondly due to the almost complete implosion of the Lib Dems locally when Greg Couzens and his cohorts split from the Lib Dems to form the very short-lived 'Independent Alliance' Party. The Lib Dems got a mauling at the subsequent local election and were left with only five councillors and very little in the way of back office support and activists helping promote their cause.

When asked about his prospects of winning the seat, Councillor Kelly said: “It would be nice, don’t get me wrong, but I will be the first to admit that it is going to be a battle.

"I think it is time we got behind this town and stopped promoting the bad and started to promote the good in the town as well.”