The Real Alternative in Northampton

It is difficult in just 10 minutes to try and sum up what I'm about as well as the Lib Dems stand for in this election.

I could give you the long list of Lib Dem policies - but I'm sure you've seen Charles Kennedy's 10 good reasons. But I wanted to start with the underlying principles…

What do the Lib Dems stand for ?

…. and what was one of the motivating phrase which made me join…. Our purpose, our very reason for being…. taken from our constitution "…..to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society…no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance and conformity…

Shouldn't that be what politics is ….about creating a 'fair, free and open society'……. surely we need that now more than ever before.

A better society, a better community for us all to live in, one that looks after the vulnerable, cares for the elderly and the sick, protects the environment, and gives everybody the opportunity to make the best of their lives and treats them as equals.

It has to be principles that guide us and to me it now seems to be only the Lib Dems that are sticking to any principles, and only the Lib Dems who are presenting a future vision.

Sadly Tory and Labour squabble over tactics, with individual claims and counter claims - and in it all they are not presenting anything positive. If anything their vision is double-vision driven out of self interest and an overriding aim of keeping power.

This is why I think people are turning to us - they are looking for a positive view- and for new ideas for the future to create a better world..

Our vision is about creating that fairer society, it's ….

About caring for the elderly:

- £100 for over 75's non means tested Citizens Pension

- Free Personal Care when people need it

- Scrapping Council Tax - in particular helping low income households

About both looking after the sick and promoting healthy lifestyles…..

- An NHS that is run locally not by Whitehall dictak

- Cut bureaucracy and red tape

- Free eye and dental check ups

- Clearer food labelling

- Banning GM crops until proven safe

About protecting the environment….

- Shifting taxes onto fuel inefficient vehicles

- Committing to alternative energy

- Action towards zero waste

About giving people the best opportunities in life….

- Best start for children - nursery education

- Maternity Income Guarantee of £170 a week for new mothers

- Scrap student tuition and top-up fees

I could go on but the one other principle I think which sets us apart again from the others is being honest about how we would pay for our commitments. Hence the 50p tax rate and funding other commitment through scrapping ID cards and the tokenistic Child Trust Fund.

With Lib Dems what you see is what you get.

And that's what I would say that about myself - what you see is what you get….

I am not a career politician, I didn't even set out with the intention of being a Councillor - I joined because I wanted stop authorities and people in power telling me what to do, and what to think, I wanted to change things make peoples lives better and demonstrate that democracy can work for people.

I'm here for the long term - I moved here in 1983 and have remained here ever since. I have represented local people for nearly 10 years as a Borough Councillor.

I don't see the job of an MP of being in London and making speeches, I see it as being in the constituency and using the office of being an MP to help the very people who elected me.

Make no mistake my two opponents are both careerist politicians - one nearing the end of her career and one just starting out.

Sally Keeble is a New Labour Blairite through and through, being chosen for Northampton North through an all women shortlist, buying a home in the constituency whilst maintaining the family home in London where both her children are educated (privately). And apparently having furnished her Northampton home whilst coming up on the train.

I don't want to be too hard on her though - she is loyal…….… to Tony Blair (hardly ever having voted against the Government - just 7 times in over 700 votes) and she is very dedicated……… in the pursuit of photo opportunities.

It comes to something when a resident calls you asking for help because 'all Sally Keeble was interested in was a photo opportunity' I have had two examples of this recently. How sad if politics has come to this.

It's perhaps a pity she was not more loyal to the people of Northampton and tried to stop the 4 post offices that have closed here since 2001,

or to have opposed the Government's unelected UDC,

or come off the fence on Greenfield site development threats such as Dallington Heath.

But perhaps her view is that Westminster and Blair come first.

Then to Damian Collins - another Tory newcomer (hands up if you can name the last Conservative Candidate for Northampton North ?).

Like the last Conservative candidate Damian claims to be an avid Saints Supporter…fat lot of good that did the last Conservative candidate… but at least he recognises something in the town.

Although I must say Damian Collins really shouldn't display his family disagreements in public. He says he lives with his wife in an old Northampton boot factory. But his wife says she lives and works in Westminster where she is a councillor. They can't both be right!

Well thankfully to resolve this dispute, Hammersmith and Fulham Council have confirmed that they are both registered to vote there.

It's not where Damian lives that I care about. It's the mentality that says you need to pretend to live somewhere to win votes.

Now I do have to thank the Tories for something - you may wonder what ?

Well as some of you know I take the train to work each day and at the moment not only am I greeted by two taxis bearing Brian Binley and Damian Collins logos -…. I wonder if Damian gets a discount on trips back home to London…??

But it's not the taxis …..it's the poster in the station car park. It makes me realise what the Tories now stand for…

You know its one of those mock handwritten ones this one says 'It's time to put a limit on immigration' you know and then "Are you thinking what were thinking..etc..

Well no I'm not …in fact and I am very appalled every time I see it - What exactly are they trying to say….

We cannot let the Tories get away with this rubbish - they are playing on the politics of fear and prejudice and ….what makes me even more dismayed is that Labour are silent on it.

No I stand here and tell you I'm in favour of immigration,… unashamedly…. I think it is a good thing - it makes our country such a rich and wonderful nation to live in.

I am grateful to live somewhere that accepts and promotes diversity and celebrates the multi-cultural nature of the people here. We live on an island with a long and proud tradition of accepting new people and making them welcome.

The Tories are seeking to build on ignorance and that brings me back to another Lib Dem principle 'tackling ignorance and conformity'… There negative campaigning just runs our town and our country down. We Lib Dems must be positive….

And we have every reason to be positive and optimistic about the forthcoming elections - …..

When Damian Collins said the other day that 'this election is about electing a Conservative or a Labour Government' …..you know the usual two party speak which they both love. He was wrong…

That is not the choice - the choice between Tory and Labour is a Hobson's choice.

And this is why in this election more than ever before there are so many reluctant Labour and Tory supporters - they just need the confidence in moving to us. We just have to show them that we can win.

And we are already winning here :

- 13 Councillors in Npton North to Labour's 14 with the Tories just 6

- 44% at the last local elections in 2003

- a growing base of supporters and members

- now campaigning in new areas and getting a wonderful reception.

We have to give people hope that there is a real alternative to Tories and Labour - and a positive view of the future.

We have the policies, we have a great bunch of people, people working tremendously hard…. BUT above all we have the principles that guide us.

You have my pledge in putting Northampton first not any political career, and my energy and enthusiasm is committed to getting our positive message across.

The time for Northampton North to elect its first Lib Dem MP has never been as close as it is now.

Thank you