Nick Clegg will let Dorothy Thornhill decide whether or not she continues as Watford Mayor were she to be elected MP. 

The Deputy Prime Minister was speaking at a conference on the state of the economy at Skillnet on the Croxley Green Business Park.

He said Mayor Thornhill, the Liberal Democrats Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, has all the attributes to make the transition from Watford’s Town Hall to the House of Commons. 

He said: "I have so much admiration for her - she is widely loved and praised in Watford. 

"She does not have any airs and graces, she is not going to have her head turned by the bright lights of Westminster and everything she does as Mayor, and will do as MP, is about one thing - what is best for Watford.

"When she becomes MP, she will bring her vast experience; she knows every blade of grass and breathes Watford life, she will bring all that down to Westminster and bang the table in Whitehall to get the very best deal for the people of Watford."

Mayor Thornhill has announced plans to continue on in the Town Hall for a year if she were to win the parliamentary race.

When asked if he thought she could do both roles, Mr Clegg said: "You would have to ask her what she wants to do, all I do know is anything Dorothy does is what she thinks is best for Watford."

Mr Clegg said May’s General Election would be the most unpredictable race in decades - with the Watford race expected to be one of the tightest fought seats in the country.