Keep it in the family

May 3 2008 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Keep it in the family

LIBERAL Democrat councillors Christine Iredale and Rochelle Parchment are keeping it in the family.

They are believed to be the first mother-daughter team ever elected to Kirklees Council.

Clr Iredale was re-elected in Golcar ward five years after she first got the job.

Meanwhile, her daughter sprang a surprise by taking the Dalton seat from Labour councillor Peter McBride.

It brings the number of councillors in their family to three – Christine’s husband Robert is also a Liberal Democrat councillor in Golcar.

Christine, who polled 1,634 votes – a winning margin of more than 600 – said: “I feel absolutely fantastic to have been re-elected and I’m so proud of Rochelle.

“I think we’ll work really well together and be a team to be feared!”

Mother-of-three Rochelle, 35, said: “I have been brought up around the Lib Dems.

“Politics is something I have always been interested in and having mum there has been a massive help.

“She has been a mentor to me and no doubt I’ll be calling her up for help and advice on a regular basis.

“I don’t think she realises how much she will be needed!”

She said she hoped being relatively young would help her, adding: “I want to get more young people interested in politics.

“It has been a long road to win, involving a lot of hard work and has been a great team effort. I’m absolutely delighted.”