Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne MP was the chief guest at a rally called by the Liberal Democrats of Leyton and Wanstead to introduce Forest ward councillor Farooq Qureshi as the Liberal democrat parliamentary candidate for Leyton and Wanstead.

The rally came on the same day as sitting Labour MP Harry Cohen finally announced his resignation after months of controversy over his expenses claims. 

Speaking at the rally, Chris Huhne MP told the audience that some of the Labour Government’s foreign policies had dented the British reputation across the globe.  He claimed that there was now an urgent  need to review those policies to restore trust and learn from the mistakes such of the Iraq war.   He reminded audience membners that it had been the Liberal Democrats that had repeatedly called on the Government to hold the Iraq war inquiry in public and not behind closed doors.

Speaking about the next general election the shadow Home Secretary said that Cllr Farooq Qureshi would make an “excellent MP for Leyton and Wanstead.”

Cllr Farooq Qureshi said:

“As a councillor and a former Mayor, I have served this area well and if elected as an MP, I shall do my utmost to serve this constituency to the best of my ability.”