The Liberal Democrat Party has announced its man to fight in the Faversham and Mid Kent constituency in the forthcoming General Election.

He is Dave Naghi, a sitting Maidstone Borough Councillor, where he has represented East Ward since 2002.

Mr Naghi will be no stranger to voters in the constituency, which despite its name actually includes much of Maidstone, as he has fought the seat twice before, at the 2005 and 2010 elections.

Mr Naghi has many links in the Maidstone area, where he has the sobriquet of “thoroughly nice bloke”. He is the centre manager for the Howard de Walden youth centre; the chairman of Maidstone Sea Cadets; a trustee with the Cutbush and Corrall almshouses, a steward at the Maidstone United FC, and has long-standing connections with the Maidstone River Festival Committee.

The incumbent MP, the popular former Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Sir Hugh Robertson, has held the seat for the Conservatives since 2001, but last month announced that he would be stepping down at the May election

The Tories have yet to announce his successor.

Mr Naghi said: “I am delighted to be re-selected to fight the constituency for a third time.

“The Lib-Dems have been standing up for ordinary people over the last five years by stopping the Conservatives making even bigger cuts. We have helped businesses create 1.8m jobs, delivered a tax cut for 47,000 local workers and secured the largest ever cash rise in the state pension.

“Locally we have continually fought against the disastrous planning policies adopted by Conservative-led councils.

Mr Naghi came second to Sir Hugh in the election last time around with 9,162 votes, but Sir Hugh had a comfortable majority of 17,088.

However, without Sir Hugh’s personal appeal, and with a Ukip candidate, Peter Edwards-Daem, already declared, the outcome looks a lot less certain this time around.

Mr Naghi made a personal appeal for support. He said: “If you would like to help me fight the Conservatives in any way please do get in touch with me.

“Only the Lib-Dems can be trusted to build a stronger economy, give the UK a fairer society and opportunity for everyone.”

He can be contacted on 07970 626829.

His agent will be Maidstone High Street ward councillor Clive English.