Having a "full-time local MP" is top concern of local voters according to survey

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Oct 2009

The local Liberal Democrats have conducted a survey of over 5,000 voters in the new Chippenham Constituency on a variety of local issues.

One of the top concerns expressed was that the next MP should be local to our area and work full-time, without any other jobs on the side. 92% of respondents to the question said that this was very important or fairly important that their MP be full-time and local. Only 8% said that they thought this was unimportant.

Local Lib Dem Councillor, Jon Hubbard, said "The Lib Dem choice for MP, Duncan Hames, is so far the only one to pledge that he will give up his business to work full-time for local people if he is elected. He has lived in our part of Wiltshire for years, it's his only home. The Conservative candidate, a Devon farmer, splits his time between three homes and has publically said that he believes in putting his business first, stating 'everything else comes second. It's as simple as that.'"

Duncan Hames said: "I'm extremely grateful to everyone who completed our survey of local residents. I think it's very important that would-be MPs take the time to understand the views of local people rather than just pursuing their own interests."