Liberal Democrats - The Real Alternative on 5th May

12.51.49am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 9th Apr 2005

Stephen Robinson with Charles Kennedy - "Lib Dems are the REAL alternative to Labour"

West Chelmsford Liberal Democrat candidate Stephen Robinson and Charles Kennedy have launched the Liberal Democrats election campaign. Said Stephen Robinson, "The Liberal Democrats are entering this campaign in excellent shape. In Chelmsford we have signed up many more helpers and members over the last year. More and more people are looking to the Liberal Democrats to provide a REAL alternative to Labour and the Conservatives. That is exactly what we will do in this campaign.

"Here in West Chelmsford, in the two most recent elections Liberal Democrats have come well ahead of Labour. In 2003, we were neck and neck with the Conservatives, with almost three times as many votes as Labour. Labour lost three seats (including their parliamentary candidate) on a huge swing to the Liberal Democrats. In 2004, Lib Dems in Chelmsford were well ahead of Labour - for the first time EVER in a European election.

"My recent campaigns in West Chelmsford to scrap council tax, scrap student tuition fees and provide free personal care for the elderly have gone down well. We have already scrapped fees and care charges in Scotland. If people vote Liberal Democrat on 5th May, that is what they will get in England too.

"We want quicker diagnosis for serious health problems and an end to 'hidden waiting lists.' A fair deal for pensioners, including £100 more a month to pensioners, initially for those over 75. We will deliver more police and smaller school class sizes, and put the environment right at the centre of our plans.

"We will be open about the cost and how we would pay it. First, we would ask the wealthiest 1% of taxpayers to pay a little bit more on that part of their earnings over £100,000. Second, we would switch £5bn a year of existing government spending by scrapping madcap schemes like compulsory ID cards and cutting back central government departments."