LIB DEM CANDIDATE WELCOMES NEW LEADER

2.49.57pm GMT Tue 18th Dec 2007

Stephen Gilbert and Nick Clegg

Commenting on the news that Nick Clegg MP has been elected as Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Stephen Gilbert, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for St Austell & Newquay said: "The close nature of the result reflects the fact that the party had two outstanding candidates to choose between. Having backed Nick Clegg from the start, I am delighted that he is our new Leader. When he visited Cornwall he made it clear that he understood the problems we face, such as below average Government funding and obscenely high water bills. Nick Clegg has the personality and ideas to take the party forward with confidence."