THE Liberal Democrats have officially launched their campaign to win back Oxford West and Abingdon in the May General Election.

Founder member of the party and former cabinet minister Baroness Williams spoke at the launch at the Randolph Hotel, Oxford, on Friday.

She said it was crucial for the Lib Dems to convince voters that their vision for economy recovery was fair and would deliver investment in the NHS and education, in contrast to Conservative policy of deeper cuts.

Other speakers at the event included the constituency’s former MP Dr Evan Harris, the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate Layla Moran and her campaign manager Neil Fawcett.

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Dr Harris saw his majority of more than 7,500 overturned in 2010 when Conservative Nicola Blackwood won the seat by just 176 votes.

Ms Moran said: “I was overwhelmed by the level of support and the enthusiasm of our supporters.

“And it was icing on the cake to have one of my own political heroes, Shirley Williams, endorse my candidacy with such passion.”

Other candidates confirmed to stand in the constituency are Sally Copley of Labour, Mike Foster of the Socialist Party of Great Britain, Alan Harris of UKIP, Helen Salisbury of National Health Action and Larry Sanders of the Green Party.