Kevin Barron welcomed for Northampton South

10.16.33pm GMT Tue 15th Mar 2005

"Kevin will make an excellent choice for Northampton South" said Andrew Simpson

Andrew Simpson has welcomed the selection of Kevin Barron as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Northampton South constituency.

" I will enjoy working closely with Kevin in the forthcoming election campaign" said Andrew "The party has been making steady progress in both constituencies and I feel optimistic for our chances this coming May".

Kevin succeeds Andrew who fought the seat for the party at the last General Election and bucked the trend in being one of the few Tory/Labour marginal seats which actually saw the Lib Dem vote increase.

Speaking about the forthcoming campaign Kevin Barron said "Local issues will make the difference in this election and time and again locally it has only been the Liberal Democrats that have put Northampton first. Take the Urban Development Corporation and Greenfield site development where Labour have signed up to Prescott's proposals and the Tories say different things to different people it has been the Lib Dems who have consistently opposed the house building plan and the undemocratic way it is being forced on us".

43 year old Kevin originally moved to Northampton in 1978, and was born in Tripoli in Libya being the son of an Army Regimental Sergeant Major. His early childhood saw him living in various places such as Germany and Northern Ireland. Kevin originally started work as a dishwasher at the Rothersthorpe service station on the M1, however after starting work as a Trainee IT Operator in 1983 he has enjoyed a wide and varied career in IT mainly working in London but also having worked for local firms such as Churches Shoes and Barclaycard. Kevin understands peoples concerns about job security having been made redundant no fewer than 4 times.

He currently works as an IT Professional in a major financial institution in Canary Wharf and travels extensively around Europe with his work.

He lives in Abington is married to Janice and they have a young son who goes to Barry Road School. Janice is a MacMillan Nurse and Magistrate. Kevin has previously lived in Thorplands, Kingsley, Semilong, and The Mounts.

A life long Liberal and Liberal Democrat voter Kevin first joined the Party in 1998 because he believed that the Labour was not delivering on its promises and believed only the Liberal Democrats were presenting a consistent and principled set of policies that addressed the needs of the country.

"People didn't get what they voted for with New Labour" said Kevin . "It was obvious not long after the 1997 election and more so now."

At the Borough Council elections in 2003 the party won the local Council seats of West Hunsbury and Delapre with over 50% of the vote.

Kevin completes the selection of General Election candidates for the Lib Dems in Northampton.