Local Lib Dem campaign team bigger than ever

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th May 2001

Responding to party leader Charles Kennedy's launch of the Liberal Democrat election campaign today, local Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Gareth Hartwell, commented: "I'm really looking forward to this campaign.

"From the people I have spoken to over the last few months, I am delighted at the response to our positive alternative agenda. Local electors understand the importance of public services like schools, hospitals and the police and are happy to back our plans to invest more in them.

"And they know that they can believe us because we say where the money will come from, and because we are putting our policies into practice where we have a share of government already - in Scotland, in Wales and in the London Authority.

"I am confident we can get this message across in Brentford and Isleworth this time. That's because we have a much bigger and better organised team than ever before. More local residents are volunteering to help in our campaign all the time - we already have well over a hundred which is about twice as many as four years ago.

"The trend started when we won the neighbouring seats in Richmond Park and Twickenham from the Tories at the last election. That was followed by a very strong showing in the European elections in our constituency and continued with a close second in our South West London area of the Greater London Authority."

Early in the day, Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, speaking at the launch of the Party's General Election campaign, said: "Everyone will remember that the Conservatives left health and education seriously under-funded and pensioners lost out. William Hague's Conservatives would be a disaster for Britain.

"But people are disappointed that Labour has failed to make many things better.

"The Liberal Democrats will invest more quickly in education to reduce class sizes, provide more books and equipment, and scrap tuition fees throughout the UK. We will put more police officers on the beat and will make public transport safe, affordable and reliable.

"We will recruit more doctors and nurses to reduce waiting times. We will increase pensions and provide free long-term care for older people. And we will put concern for the environment at the heart of our approach.

"Liberal Democrats offer a real chance for real change - and we are confident of winning more support."