It is disappointing that the Tories have failed to put up a single candidate in the whole of Hebden Royd or in Calder Ward for the Calderdale elections. It it shows what a scant regard they have for local democracy and the people of our area.

Menzies Campbell today launched the Liberal Democrat local elections campaign by highlighting the real and positive change the party is making in local communities across the country.

Speaking this morning in London, Menzies Campbell emphasised that it is Liberal Democrat Councils who are putting in place practical measures to cut crime and tackle the issue of climate change while giving power back to local communities.

He cited the examples of Liverpool, where a Liberal Democrat council has slashed domestic burglary by 24% and Newcastle where the Liberal Democrat council has cut violent crime by 12%, after it doubled under Labour’s control. In Islington, a Liberal Democrat council has reduced anti-social behaviour through the innovative use of anti-social behaviour contracts.

The Liberal Democrat Green Tax Switch proposals would move the burden of national tax away from people and towards pollution. The money raised would then be used to cut national income tax for millions of low and middle income earners.

Sir Menzies highlighted that on a local level, Liberal Democrat Councils successful track record on the environment:

• Waverley Council has increased recycling rates from 14% under the Conservatives to 40% under the Liberal Democrats.
• Cornwall County Council has formed a Sustainable Energy Partnership, which has set challenging targets for renewable energy.
• Richmond upon Thames has implemented groundbreaking parking charges to ensure that residents in controlled parking zones pay for their permits based on the CO2 emissions of their vehicles.

The Liberal Democrat Leader attacked Tony Blair’s Government for being the most centralising and authoritarian government of the modern era, and criticised David Cameron for learning all the wrong lessons about soundbites and spin from him.

He also stated that there are no ‘no go’ areas for the Liberal Democrats, as the only truly national party of local government. Liberal Democrat are not just present on councils in the north and south, east and west, and Scotland and Wales, they are leading them too. From the urban north, where the Conservatives are nowhere to be seen, to the rural South, where Labour is all but invisible.

Calder Ward March Focus 2007

On the fourth anniversary of the day the Labour Government and the Conservatives voted for the invasion of Iraq, the Liberal Democrats have released figures on the cost of the war both in terms of lives lost and resources.

In the four years since Iraq was invaded:

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell said:

“The war in Iraq was illegal. President Bush made the decisions, the Prime Minister argued the case, the Chancellor signed the cheques and the Tories voted it through.

“Iraq is now in a state of civil war. The cost in terms of lives and resources has been enormous. This does not take account of the long-term effect that four years of war and occupation have had on the country and the huge sums of money that are needed for reconstruction.

“The Prime Minister should apologise to the country for taking us into an illegal war that has cost all sides dearly.”