Paddy Ashdown launches Lib Dem campaign in Somerset

Paddy  Ashdown,  former Lib Dem leader and MP for Yeovil launched the party's campaign in Somerset today (8th April). Flanked by the county's Lib Dem MPs Jeremy Browne (Taunton), David Laws (Yeovil), David Heath (Somerton & Frome) and candidates Tessa Munt (Wells), Theo Butt Philip (Bridgwater) and Brian Matthew (Somerset North).

Lord Ashdown who is heading up the Liberal Democrat campaign in the West of England  and lives just outside Yeovil,  said: "I am proud of the Lib Dem team in Somerset, their record of service and action on behalf of the people of this great county. It should not be forgotten that when the Conservatives were in power they wreaked havoc on Somerset. The West Country simply cannot afford another Tory government, we are still paying for the last one. All David Cameron would bring is a home counties government run by a home counties cabinet most of whom went to the same home counties school. " 

Lord Ashdown  who  visited the campaign team and a cider farm in Wells before moving on to launch the campaign unveiled a set of campaign pledges for Somerset highlighting  county-wide issues from housing to education, provision of services from health to libraries and post offices and the needs of local business.

Outlining the pledges for Somerset, David Laws said education would be the key priority for the Lib Dems in the county. "We are about to unveil a programme bringing significant addition funding for Somerset children.

 "After decades of under-funding from consecutive Labour and Tory governments, the Lib Dem pupil premium would bring back fairness to the way education is funded in Somerset. The extra £15million a year that Somerset's schools would benefit from could be spent on reducing class sizes and recruiting more teachers."

David Heath said the Lib Dem team understood Somerset issues and was the strongest voice for the county in Westminster.

"When the cider tax was announced David Cameron supported it. The next day he was down in the West Country sipping a pint of cider and saying he was against it. That's all you need to know about where the Conservatives stand on most issues. I was the first MP to stand up in Westminster and speak out against a measure that would have damaged an industry, jobs and our Somerset landscape."

Jeremy Browne said: "Under Lib Dem proposals, changes to the tax system would mean an estimated 12% of Somerset workers and all pensioners will no longer pay income tax and the majority of taxpayers will be £700 better off. This will make a signicant difference to people's lives and bring greater fairness to the system."

Tessa Munt said she had spent time on the doorsteps over the past few years and had just met the 48,000 voter in Wells constituency.

"What people on the doorsteps are asking for is honesty and fairness in politics and the Liberal Democrats will work to rebuild the trust that has been so badly damaged and abused."

Category: MP Press Releases