Election hots up

Ealing Southall

From: Ealing Times

A BUSY weekend of electioneering saw new accusations levelled at Tory election candidate Tony Lit as the Ealing-Southall by-election enters the final stages.

It emerged over the weekend that Mr Lit had attended a Labour fundraiser for Asian business people and sat at a table that cost his company, Sunrise radio, £4,800.

Mr Lit claimed he attended the function, where he was photographed with the former Prime Minister Tony Blair, in his official capacity as chief executive of Sunrise radio.

Mr Lit said: "As a businessman, I did indeed attend this event for the asian business community.

"Like many British asians I feel the Labour Government does not have the answers to the challenges that currently face the country."

Mr Lit also denied signing any cheques or making a personal donation to Labour.

The Liberal Democrat Chief Executive Lord Rennard said: "This news is yet another blow to a beleaguered Conservative campaign.

"Their candidate has been revealed as a Labour donor and perhaps the Conservatives will be relieved that he cannot win the by-election.

"One has to wonder just what questions were asked before the Conservatives invited Mr Lit to become 'David Cameron's Conservative candidate'".

Past and present Liberal Democrat leaders also descended on Ealing Broadway on Monday this week to back their man Nigel Bakhai.

Paddy Ashdown and current party chief Sir Menzies Campbell were on a walkabout on promoting their push for what would be a key seat for them.

Labour enlisted the help of yet another cabinet member in the form of Ruth Kelly the Transport minister.

Ms Kelly joined candidate Virendra Sharma at Ealing Broadway station on Friday at rush hour to talk to commuters about transport problems in the area.

Ms Kelly said: "I have been listening very carefully to what the commuters and Virendra have been telling me about transport problems locally."

Mr Sharma added: "I've asked Ruth Kelly to look into what can be done to speed up improvements to the District and Central lines."

"We are entitled to a decent service and at the moment it's just not good enough."

Not to be outdone the Respect party enlisted the help of MP George Galloway, to address a meeting above the TKC restaurant in Southall Broadway on Sunday.

The former Celebrity Big Brother star was apparently mobbed by supporters taking photo's on their mobile phones as he walked to the meeting.

He reiterated his claim that: "Salvinder Dhillon will be your man in Westmister, not Westminster's man in Ealing Southall.

"He has all the experience, skill and integrity necessary to deserve and win your respect on 19 July."