A self-employed businessman has been chosen as a parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Huddersfield.

Zulfiqar Ali will contest the Huddersfield seat at May’s general election for the party.

He has lived in Birkby for over 20 years and has two children at Royds Hall Community School.

Zulfiqar says he will be campaigning to protect the services at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary – particularly the Maternity Unit and Accident and Emergency Services.

He also highlighted the positive steps taken by his party in government, including the Pupil Premium and £8bn for the NHS.

But the former Rochdale councillor and mayor says he will be focusing on local issues, such as the apprentice scheme, funding for heritage, history and culture, adding: “It is vital that it is kept open and properly developed to extend its service and facilities.”

He has been an active member of the Liberal Democrats since his school days in Rochdale, joining the Party in1982. He was a Rochdale Metropolitan Councillor for a number of years and served as Cabinet Member for Housing and Community, School Governor, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and has also been Mayor of Rochdale.

For the past two years he has been a member of the Liberal Democrat policy advice panel on immigration.