BLACKBURN TORIES have scored a political first by appointing an international lawyer as Britain's first Asian woman prospective parliamentary candidate.

And they have warned Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw they mean business. They are convinced Geeta Sidhu can turn around his 6,000 majority at the next general election.

"She's the brightest hope we've had in years!" proclaimed Tory Association chair Bernard Gavin. "She's dynamic, gregarious and successful and has all the right qualities to win over the Blackburn electorate.

Born and raised in Malawi, Africa, Miss Sidhu came to England at the age of 14. Educated at Guildford College of Law and Buckingham University, The 28-year-old is a qualified solicitor and runs her own international law practice in London.

Miss Sidhu won 60 per cent of the vote beating 11 other candidates and is anxious to kick off her campaign and meet local people.

"I'm very proud of Blackburn," said Miss Sidhu, whose family run hotels in the town. "It's a great town with lots of potential and I'm going to use all my skills to revitalise the place. Being British, a woman and Asian I feel I can serve all the community's needs."

The editor of the Blackburn-based Asian newspaper, Lancashire Independent, Zaffer Khan commented: "It's a very bold move by the Conservatives. Miss Sidhu might win the votes of Asian women, but being a Sikh woman may hamper her progress in a largely Moslem community."

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