Kennedy sets out vision for a Liberal Democratic Britain

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 22nd Sep 2005

Charles Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats has set out his vision for the future of our country in his closing speech to the Lib Dem Conference in Blackpool.

He said: "I want a Britain with first class public services, so that people can be treated well in a local hospital, and they don't have to shop around for a decent school - they are there on the doorstep.

"I want a Britain that has a vibrant growing economy - that rewards success, not penalises it.

"A Britain that lives up to its responsibilities on the international stage - that values international law - that is genuinely outward looking and emphatically internationalist.

"These are the things that have driven me over those years - and still drive me. Not for me, not for us, but for Britain. A Liberal Democrat Britain."

Northampton local party members were present in the hall to listen to what he said. Andrew Simpson said "This was the best speech I have heard from Charles it was full of passion and vision and painted clearly the differences between conservatism and liberalism. It was categorical in defining the Lib Dems as a progressive party that will not be influenced by either Labour or Conservative party positioning."

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Click here to read Charles Kennedy's full speech.