Watford’s mayor: Parties can no longer take seat for granted

One of the candidates to be Watford’s next MP says she feels immensely proud to have been given the opportunity to put herself before the electorate at the next General Election in 2015. Watford mayor Dorothy Thornhill was put forward as the Lib Dems Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Watford constituency earlier this month. Dorothy said she has strong links with the village and the surrounding area. As mayor of Watford for the last 12 years, Dorothy told My Abbots News she believes this gives her a unique advantage over her rivals. She explained: “Since we’ve been in coalition, I’ve worked with ministers to get things done. I’m no stranger to Westminster – this is a unique opportunity and that’s what made me change my mind. I can do this – I have a proven track record of working for Watford and much more important I am home grown. I’ve not wanted to represent anywhere else.” In recent political history, the victorious party nationally has also claimed Watford but Dorothy said she believes her candidacy now means the Labour and the Conservative party can no longer take the seat for granted. She said: “The odds shortened as soon as the pollsters knew who our candidate was. I’m not like a usual politician. I have got a track record. I will be a truly local MP and more productive for Watford to be a voice in Westminster. “As Mayor, I’ve realised however efficiently we run the council, some problems only be solved at a national level – I want to be there to represent Watford and get things to change. It’s very much business as usual – I will spend every minute of every day focused on job and what I want to achieve. The job carries on but we will become more of a campaign in that regard. It will be more exciting and the outcome should be less predictable.”