Toby Philpott Selected

The Liberal Democrats have selected Toby Philpott as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Folkestone and Hythe. Toby was elected following a hustings meeting and ballot of members from across the constituency following a hard fought three way race.

The three candidates for the position were Lynne Beaumont, Mark Corney and Toby Philpott. Peter Carroll who has been the Parliamentary Candidate at the last 2 General Elections withdrew from the selection race in order to support his business.

At the hustings all three candidates made a presentation and faced questions from the packed audience at the Burlington Hotel in Folkestone.

Toby Philpott thanked the other candidates in the race and members, and pledged to stand up for Folkestone and Hythe. Toby said:

"I am absolutely delighted to have been selected to fight Folkestone & Hythe at the next General Election and want to thank the members of the Shepway Liberal Democrats for bringing me back to Folkestone, my home town".

"I am passionate about this constituency, having grown up here and seen the Folkestone Harbour area in particular, decline under Tory representation.

"Now I am coming home to work with our excellent local councillors and campaigners to get the people of Folkestone & Hythe a better deal from the Government and put right some of the economic damage that has been done through years of neglect and underinvestment".

Toby Philpott, 37, is an economist who grew up in Folkestone and went to St. Peter's Primary School and the Harvey Grammar School. Toby joined the then Shepway Liberal Association in 1987 and has been an active campaigner in the Liberal Democrats ever since having held various offices at local party and national level.

He was previously a Parliamentary Candidate for Birmingham Perry Barr in 1992 and has prior experience of active involvement in parliamentary campaigns in Durham and most recently Bromley & Chislehurst. He is married to Qun, whom he met in China, and they have a daughter, Anna aged 3.

You can see an interview with Toby just after the declaration of the result at www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/tv/.