Sarah Yong, second Chinese Liberal Democrat to be selected to join the Leader's Programme

The Leadership Programme, run by the Liberal Democrats, provides training and mentoring to under-represented groups in a bid to give minorities a better chance of becoming an MP.

Born in Edinburgh to a Chinese Malaysian father and Scottish mother, Sarah Yong 勇莎拉, was brought up in Somerset where she attended local state schools. A graduate from University of Sheffield in Politics and History Sarah is currently head of office for Tessa Munt MP.

Yong, 27 said '' I'm extremely glad to have made it onto this programme which focuses on making our Party fully representative in Parliament. It is hugely important that the public are able to vote for 'real' people who fully represent all sections of society, as Nick Clegg said, currently Lib Dem MP's are ''too male and too pale'' and this has to change.''

Merlene Emerson, chair of the Chinese Liberal Democrats, added:

"I was delighted to hear that out of 14 members from the black and ethnic minority community across the country who made it through a rigorous selection process, two are of Chinese descent.

"Both Philip Ling and Sarah Yong are exceptionally bright and talented individuals with their careers ahead of them. What is more unconventional as compared to other young people is that they are also passionate about politics and have a genuine desire to make a difference. They have chosen the Liberal Democrats as the party that best represents their values and aspirations for society.

"I wish them both success and hope that with investment from the Party they will be able to fulfil their ambitions to become Parliamentarians in the not too distant future!".

- Full details of the scheme and a complete list of participants will be announced in January 2012.