Doreen's MP bid despite son's death

9.02.24pm GMT Sat 27th Feb 2010

Cllr. Doreen Holt

A VETERAN councillor whose life was rocked by the tragic death of her son has launched a bid to become a Blackpool MP.

Doreen Holt has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Blackpool South in the forthcoming General Election.

The long-serving Blackpool councillor will now lock horns with sitting Labour MP Gordon Marsden and Tory rival Ron Bell in what is expected to be a closely contested seat.

It has been a terrible year for Coun Holt whose son Stephen (pictured below) died after he was allegedly attacked outside the Belle Vue pub on Whitegate Drive pub last February.

She says she is still having difficulty sleeping and is awaiting the trial of a man accused of manslaughter.

But Coun Holt said she will not let personal heartache affect her attempt to represent her community in Parliament.

She has vowed to "rise above" the tragedy and make her son proud.

"I haven't slept a full night since my son died," the Bloomfield ward councillor said.

"Everybody suffers with grief differently and I've found it very hard. But that's just the way things are.

"My son would want me to rise above it though. We're a very close family and I hope I will make them proud."

By Joe Robinson Blackpool Gazette 2010