Local resident Colin Firth backs Lib Dems for fundamental change in politics
April 29, 2010 12:00 AM
Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem Prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth Constituency, by the Hogarth Statue in Chiswick
Oscar-nominated and Bafta Award winning actor, campaigner for refugee rights and local resident Colin Firth is backing the Liberal Democrats at this election having previously supported Labour. Colin Firth first gained wide public attention for his portrayal of Mr Darcy in the 1995 television adaption of Pride and Prejudice. He achieved film stardom with 'Bridget Jones's Diary' and in February 2010 received an Academy Award nomination for his work in 'A Single Man', for which he won the BAFTA for Best Actor. Lib Dem prospective MP Cllr Andrew Dakers welcomed the news. He is a signatory to the Liberty-Refugee Council parliamentary candidates' pledge on refugee rights. Colin Firth's support is one among many indicators of growing support for Andrew Dakers. In the past few weeks bookies odds on Cllr Dakers winning the parliamentary seat have started to swing strongly in the Liberal Democrat's favour.
Actor, campaigner for refugee rights and local resident Colin Firth says of the Liberal Democrats:
"Whenever I look for compassionate and intellectually rigorous politics I keep coming back to them."
"As a party outside the establishment, they seem to be offering a change to the basic system of politics that would involve listening to and amplifying the voice of outsiders. Those who, like me, have despaired of political alternatives, should take a second look."
Cllr Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem Prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth, commented:
"I am delighted that Colin Firth has backed the Liberal Democrats politics and principles, recognising that we are seeking to fundamentally transform how politics is done in the UK. He is a local resident, globally respected for his work as an actor, and also shining a spotlight on the issue of refugee rights."
"Along with my Lib Dem colleagues I have signed the Liberty-Refugee Council parliamentary candidates' pledge. We recognise there is no place for racism and xenophobia in modern British politics. Nor is democratic debate advanced by the denigration of the most vulnerable in our country, which includes children and asylum seekers.
"As prospective MP I am conscious of the need for refugee protection, even in lively and sometimes controversial debates about immigration policy. We have a proud tradition as a nation that offers succour to those in genuine fear of persecution. It is important that while preventing abuses of the system we do not lose sight of this."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The other local actor backing the Liberal Democrats and Andrew's campaign is Susan Penhaligon.
2. In 2005 Andrew visited Feltham Young Offenders Institution to see first hand what was being done to improve the institution after years of lurching from one crisis to the next. Since then Andrew has handled a few asylum cases in his role as a councillor. After the General Election Andrew plans to visit a Detention Centre, to monitor the conditions in which refugees are being housed.
3. Chiswick-based Antique specialist and TV presenter Tom Keane is also supporting Andrew Dakers as Parliamentary candidate.
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