Dakers sets Keen the Pedometer Challenge: who can walk and cycle furthest in meeting constituents by election day? (Hounslow Liberal Democrats)

Dakers sets Keen the Pedometer Challenge: who can walk and cycle furthest in meeting constituents by election day?

April 18, 2005 1:45 PM

You can find out how far Andrew has walked and cycled every evening by logging onto www.andrewdakers.com

When the General Election was called just over 10 days ago Andrew Dakers, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Brentford and Isleworth, gave voters a big hint of just how determined he is to set the pace of this campaign - his way.

His first stop on the campaign trail was Moore Bros bicycle shop, Isleworth, where he asked for a new speedometer to be fitted to his bicycle.

Going the extra mile for the constituency is definitely on Dakers' agenda.

Today, fully prepared for the race to the polls, Dakers will formally challenge former Labour MP Ann Keen to walk and cycle further than him to reach voters, her progress monitored on a pedometer identical to his.

Dakers promises a fair trial:

"Every evening I will take a digi-photo of the pedometer showing how just far I've walked and cycled and upload it onto my website: www.andrewdakers.com.

"I expect regulars on local web forums BrentfordTW8.com and ChiswickW4.com will also be keeping tabs on us."

But will Keen take up the challenge? Dakers doubts it, given her record to date:

"Ann is notorious for not replying to constituents' letters or organising surgeries. My colleague, Satnam Kaur Khalsa (Parliamentary Candidate for Feltham and Heston), and I are still waiting for a response to the environmental challenge we set Ann and her husband, Alan Keen MP, last autumn!"

Even local Labour activists are concerned about the effectiveness of the Keen's "his and hers" partnership. Following November's "Mr and Mrs Expenses" fiasco, frank admissions such as "Hounslow has a terrible reputation in London Labour circles" and "Hounslow... provides the best free comedy show in London" appeared in the local media.

In the Evening Standard's recently published Value for Money survey, Ann Keen came a shameful 68th out of 73 London MPs while, at the other end of the scale, Liberal Democrat Paul Burstow was highlighted as London's hardest-working MP, with all six of his Lib Dem colleagues coming in the top 15.

Andrew and Satnam are determined to continue this trend, and to ensure the constituents of Hounslow get a better deal.

Khalsa said:

"Liberal Democrats are setting the standard for MPs across London. Andrew and I are determined to put in the most hours for the people we represent, starting now. If elected, we will deliver value for money for our constituents and we will work as hard as we possibly can to restore their vital trust in the political process."

NOTES TO EDITORS

Husband and wife team, Ann and Alan Keen still haven't responded to the environmental challenge which Hounslow Liberal Democrats set them last Autumn. Andrew Dakers (Brentford and Isleworth) and Satnam Kaur Khalsa (Feltham & Heston) wrote to Ms Keen, Brentford & Isleworth's former MP, and Mr Keen, Feltham & Heston former MP, urging them to sign up to a 10 point Liberal Democrat challenge to show their commitment to the environment.

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