PREGNANT Conservative Parliamentary candidate Geeta Sidhu today hit back at critics who claim she is not properly married.

Miss Sidhu, who will fight the Blackburn seat held by shadow home secretary Jack Straw, is expecting a baby on October 13.

The 29-year-old lawyer was married in a religious ceremony in Moscow, where her husband lives, on March 4.

But she still needs official documents for the marriage to be recognised in Britain. "I am very married," said Miss Sidhu, who lives in London and travels regularly to Moscow on business.

"After a religious ceremony I feel far more married than if I had simply gone to a register office.

"I need to get the official documents to be recognised under British law, but as far as I'm concerned, I am married."

She also denied a report in a national newspaper which claimed she had been grilled at Conservative Central Office over her personal life and about her new husband.

"That never happened," said Miss Sidhu.

She added that she had the full backing of Blackburn Conservative Association: "They are thrilled, especially since my son is due on Margaret Thatcher's birthday."

Association chairman Bernard Gavin confirmed local Tories were backing Miss Sidhu.

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