the first party to announce a candidate was the social democratic party who confirmed on 23 january 1990 that ian wood, a 33-year-old solicitor from lichfield, would stand for them. the liberal democrats, although expecting the sdp to stand, were not pleased because they feared being marginalised if the two parties opposed each other. they chose tim jones (aged 38), a barrister who had fought the seat in two previous elections and lived in the constituency in rugeley.