Lib Dems welcome start of General Election
Jill Wareham, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for the Isle of Wight has today welcomed the start of the General Election campaign. Isle of Wight will be one of the "battleground" seats in the election - between Lib Dem and the Conservatives. Labour have come third in the seat for the past 26 years.
Jill said: "Unfortunately we have waited far too long for this election. Labour have been a let-down for the people of this country and the people of the Isle of Wight. They are already third here on the Island and the Conservatives are not the answer. I remember how they let down the country and the Island - devastating the NHS and the leopard has not changed its spots. The Tory Euro-MP for the South East has called the NHS a "60 year mistake". The Tories cut the link between the earnings and the state pension - meaning that we have one of the worst pensions in Europe and the Tory instinct in taxation is to let off the wealthy but tax ordinary people hard. We don't need to look far to see how a Conservative Government might run the country - the Tory-run Isle of Wight Council has made swingeing cuts to the most vulnerable of our residents.
"I will be campaigning at this election for a fair deal for local people. Fairness in taxation - a £700 tax cut for the average earner. Fairness for schools - millions of pounds extra for Island schools' through the Lib Dems' pupil premium. Fairness in jobs - a "green road" out of the recession through investing in renewable energy. And fair and accountable politics. All MPs share some responsibility for the problems that grew up over expenses but we must now reform the political system.
"Knocking on doors in recent days, I have found considerable disillusionment with both Conservative and Labour. After 65 years of failure, we are dubbing them the "Labservatives" - each as bad as the other. People want to see a stronger Lib Dem presence in Parliament. Here on the Island we have won in the past and can do so again.
"I welcome the opportunity to put forward the Lib Dems policies to the people of the Isle of Wight. I am optimistic and hopeful as we put the strong case for the Liberal Democrats on the Island. If elected I will work as hard as possible for the people of the Isle of Wight. Campaigning to safeguard and attract jobs. Making sure that we get a fair deal for our schools and hospitals. Speaking up for our armed forces. Getting a better deal for pensioners. Campaigning for university tuition fees to be scrapped and voting against any increase in them. And working for better animal welfare and opposing any move to lift the ban on hunting of foxes with dogs."
"The General Election comes at a good time for the Liberal Democrats. We are up 4% in the most recent ICM poll for the Guardian from 19% to 23%. And the Lib Dems' Vince Cable is widely seen as having won the "Ask the Chancellors" debate on Channel 4 last week. The Independent Newspaper gave Vince Cable 4 stars, the Conservatives' George Osborne, 1 star.
"I am looking forward to the next few weeks, knocking on doors, listening to people's views and explaining our Liberal Democrat policies of fairness for all."