Lib Dems Optimistic for 2005 (Andrew Simpson)

Lib Dems Optimistic for 2005

January 1, 2005 1:00 AM

The terrible events in South East Asia on Boxing Day have made it difficult to look forward to 2005 without thinking about all those who lost their lives or are suffering as a result of the Tsunami. To me it highlights how frail our human existence is on this planet and that despite all our technological advances we are still very much subjects of nature.

If anything positive can be taken from this terrible event it is the coming together of the international community to help the countries affected to rebuild their lives. It is also a great credit to the generosity and spirit of the British people in the millions of pounds raised so far and the efforts to collect clothing and other items that will help.

In this context looking at the domestic political future for 2005 seems somewhat shallow by comparison. Yet this will be the year of two important elections for Northampton giving us the chance to both change the way our local County Council is run and also who represents us at Westminster.

Liberal Democrats have every reason to be optimistic. In 2004 we won two parliamentary by-elections - both from third place (Brent East and Leicester South), coming a close second in two others, pushed the Labour party into third place in the 2004 local elections and in Northampton time and again demonstrated locally how we are more in touch with the aspirations of the people than either Tory or Labour parties.

Take two issues that I have featured on this web site. Green field site development and the market square. On green field site development it has only been the Lib Dems on the Council that have opposed Prescott's Urban Development Corporation and the number of houses being planned for development. Whilst Tory parliamentary candidates say they are opposed the Tories who run South Northants, Daventry and Northampton Council's have all signed up to it. Hardly a consistent position!

Over the market square the weak Conservative administration on the Borough, who seem more often to be led by the Labour group, failed to provide a clear direction over the future of the market square and drew up plans for covering our historic square. Something my own poll on this site and others has show people to be against. Again it was Lib Dems that led on this issue and challenged those in power.

And that's what I see will be our role as we enter these elections. To challenge those in power, hold them to account and present clear alternatives.

The Tories are hopeless - they failed to provide any opposition on the war in Iraq, over student Tuition Fees, over the wasteful ID card scheme, over Council Tax… need I go on! Their poor showing in the parliamentary by-elections and their flatlining in opinion polls shows them out of the race.

The job of an opposition party is to challenge the Government and provide an alternative it has only been the Lib Dems who have done so, and continue to.

So locally I will not only be challenging Sally Keeble on why she has not come off the fence over her Government's UDC and expansion plans and why on so many issues she simply 'follows her leader' but I will also present the clear alternative that we Lib Dems offer.

Northampton people deserve an MP that represents them not Westminster, and a Council that works towards building a town and a home we are all proud of.

Have a great 2005.