Nick Clegg is Leader of Lib Dems - Councillor Wera Hobhouse

4.00.00pm GMT Wed 19th Dec 2007

Councillor Wera Hobhouse with new Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg MP

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, Parliamentary Spokesman for Heywood and Middleton welcomes the election of Nick Clegg as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats. She comments:

"I am delighted to offer our congratulations to Nick Clegg and commiserations to Chris Huhne, it was a very close result but in the end we have a very talented, energetic and skilled leader in Nick Clegg.

I know from my recent meeting with Nick Clegg that he is able to engage with all sorts of people that Westminster politicians ignore, the future for the Lib Dems is very much on the up under his leadership.

I look forward to working with him to ensure that places like Heywood and Middleton are given the opportunity to reject the same old Tories and Labour and replace with a dynamic, energetic and committed local Lib Dem team.

The future is certainly bright and Yellow!.

END