Remaking the political landscape. (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Remaking the political landscape.

April 6, 2006 10:55 PM

Sir Ming Campbell, Lib Dem Leader

In the few weeks since I became Leader of the Liberal Democrats, one crucial fact has impressed me more than any other. That is the scale of the opportunity which lies before us, writes Sir Ming Campbell, Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Seldom in British politics has there been a greater chance to remake the political landscape.

Tony Blair is a Prime Minister who governs in spite of his Party. Every initiative he takes creates conflict on his own benches, dissent among his own supporters and resentment from his likely successor,. Every move he makes is dogged by the question - what does this mean for his leaving date? And all the time, in the background, is the rumbling of the unresolved questions about loans for peerages.

But the position for David Cameron is no better. We were promised an end to Punch & Judy politics. But it is increasingly clear that behind the mask there is little substance. Mr. Cameron's defining moment may well turn out to have been his reply to Gordon Brown's budget - the first face-to-face contest between the two.

What we expected was a heavyweight fight. What we saw was Mr. Cameron resorting to university debating tactics and failing to land a single serious blow. Why? Because the Tories offer little except Blairism with a new face. And Mr. Cameron, too, faces serious questions on his Party's funding - in particular why do we still not know the provenance of who made major loans to the Conservatives general election coffers?

The public has realised that both Labour and the Conservatives have failed to deliver. That's why there is such goodwill for the Liberal Democrats. That's why we were able to transform that goodwill into votes at the ballot box in Dunfermline. That's why since the turn of the year Liberal Democrats have won more new seats than any other party in local by-elections. And that's why we must do all we can to do so again in the local elections on Thursday 4 May.

We go into the council elections with a proud record of two decades of growing success in local government. Liberal Democrat councils and Liberal Democrat councillors are popular, efficient and effective. On Thursday 4 May 2006, I want us to take the platform they have created and make it the launch pad for transforming the political landscape over the rest of this Parliament.

In these elections we will concentrate on three key issues which are uppermost in voters' minds - the threat to our environment, the need to scrap the council tax and the menace of crime. These will be strong themes for our party in all of our campaigning.

Let me just take one of these issues. Liberal Democrats have put the environment at the centre of our thinking ever since the party was born. Our commitment is based on deeply held beliefs, not on the latest focus groups. Our prosperity, our security, our quality of life, the very sustainability of the planet, depends on our society's attitude towards the environment.

When I became Leader I promised modernisation of every aspect of our Party and a real commitment to three-party politics. These local elections are the first staging post on that journey. Over the next few weeks I shall be concentrating on supporting our council leaders, our candidates and our supporters in delivering the best possible results. I urge you to do the same.