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30/03/2005
Lib Dems launch local election campaign
The Liberal Democrats have launched their local government election campaign by declaring the party "the growing force" in local government.
A statement released by the party stated that the Liberal Democrats had "pushed" Labour into third place in last year's local elections. The Liberal Democrats also said that in local government by-elections up to May 5, they had gained 12 seats, while the Conservatives and Labour had lost four seats each.
Local government spokesperson for the party, Edward Davey, said: "Liberal Democrats are now the real alternative in local and national government. The last two rounds of nationwide local election brought our best results ever: last year's elections saw the Liberal Democrats push Labour into third place for the first time ever, winning control of the former Labour bastion of Newcastle and taking power in cities such as Birmingham, Leeds and Cardiff. Recent council by-election results confirm this trend, with Liberal Democrats making more net gains than any other party in the last six months."
The Liberal Democrats also claimed that councils led by their members were making the fastest improvements and also had set the lowest council tax rises this year.
Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Clarke said: "Lib Dem council leaders now manage £10 billion of public spending and 12 million people now live in an area with a Lib Dem council leader. Three of the five councils singled out for praise by the Audit Commission for their improvement were Lib Dem led authorities. Where Liberal Democrats have won control of failing councils, we have been turning them around."
The Conservatives criticised the Liberal Democrats claims and said that they planned a series of local tax increases. Eric Pickles, Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government, said: "Liberal Democrats want twenty local tax hikes – twenty holes in your pocket. Their answer to every issue is a new tax or new red tape, hammering hard working families, pensioners and struggling local businesses. No wonder that Liberal Democrats now have fewer councillors under Charles Kennedy than they did under Paddy Ashdown. They fail to keep the councils they do win – the pubic have caught on that the Liberal Democrats never deliver on the inflated promises they peddle on the doorstep."
(KMcA/SP)
A statement released by the party stated that the Liberal Democrats had "pushed" Labour into third place in last year's local elections. The Liberal Democrats also said that in local government by-elections up to May 5, they had gained 12 seats, while the Conservatives and Labour had lost four seats each.
Local government spokesperson for the party, Edward Davey, said: "Liberal Democrats are now the real alternative in local and national government. The last two rounds of nationwide local election brought our best results ever: last year's elections saw the Liberal Democrats push Labour into third place for the first time ever, winning control of the former Labour bastion of Newcastle and taking power in cities such as Birmingham, Leeds and Cardiff. Recent council by-election results confirm this trend, with Liberal Democrats making more net gains than any other party in the last six months."
The Liberal Democrats also claimed that councils led by their members were making the fastest improvements and also had set the lowest council tax rises this year.
Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Clarke said: "Lib Dem council leaders now manage £10 billion of public spending and 12 million people now live in an area with a Lib Dem council leader. Three of the five councils singled out for praise by the Audit Commission for their improvement were Lib Dem led authorities. Where Liberal Democrats have won control of failing councils, we have been turning them around."
The Conservatives criticised the Liberal Democrats claims and said that they planned a series of local tax increases. Eric Pickles, Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government, said: "Liberal Democrats want twenty local tax hikes – twenty holes in your pocket. Their answer to every issue is a new tax or new red tape, hammering hard working families, pensioners and struggling local businesses. No wonder that Liberal Democrats now have fewer councillors under Charles Kennedy than they did under Paddy Ashdown. They fail to keep the councils they do win – the pubic have caught on that the Liberal Democrats never deliver on the inflated promises they peddle on the doorstep."
(KMcA/SP)
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