LIBERAL Democrats, desperate for a good showing in next month's local elections, have launched their town halls' manifesto, which once again highlights the party's pledge to scrap council tax.
By Graham Dines
LIBERAL Democrats, desperate for a good showing in next month's local elections, have launched their town halls' manifesto, which once again highlights the party's pledge to scrap council tax..
New leader Sir Menzies Campbell said at the manifesto launch today: “We're challenging Labour in the big cities where the Conservatives have long since disappeared from view.
“We're fighting the Conservatives in the shires and the suburbs and gaining ground in spite of their attempts to reinvent themselves.”
On May 4, there will be contests in 32 London boroughs, 36 metropolitan councils, 20 English unitary councils and 88 English shire districts.
Sir Menzies told a news conference at the party's Westminster headquarters they would be campaigning on a platform of a safer, fairer and greener Britain.
He said the Lib Dems would be looking to break through in “areas that were solid Labour for generations, but got fed up of too much talk and not enough delivery.”
Local government spokesman Andrew Stunell said the Tories were failing to make up the ground they needed in northern cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle if they were ever to return to power.
“Last time the Conservatives ran this country they had two Conservative MPs in Liverpool. They now have no MPs and no councillors and they have no chance of either in this election,” he said.
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