Ming Campbell leadership campaign comes to Cheltenham
Ming Campbell is to visit Cheltenham tomorrow on the next stage of his nationwide tour. In addition to meeting local members, he will make a speech spelling out how under Labour, centralisation is eroding local democracy and undermining personal responsibility. He will conclude his visit by taking part in a Q & A session with Liberal Democrats who are travelling to meet him from as far as Worcestershire, Herefordshire and the midlands.
Ming Campbell will be hosted on his visit to Cheltenham by the town’s former MP, Nigel Jones, now Lord Jones of Cheltenham. The leadership contender and acting leader, who was spending today (Thursday) in Scotland rallying supporters at the Dunfermline by-election, will be joined on the panel at Gloucestershire and Cheltenham College by Jenny Willott who became one of the party’s youngest MPs when she triumphed at Cardiff Central in the 2005 General Election. Jenny Willott is one of 31 MPs who have so far declared their support for Ming Campbell’s leadership campaign.
Lord Jones of Cheltenham said:
I shared an office with Ming Campbell for five years and I have seen him in operation. Throughout his life, he has been a team player and a team captain – he was in the Olympics and he will be for us.
In his speech Ming Campbell will say:
Under Labour, accountability has decreased as centralisation has increased. When did a Minister last resign because of incompetence in their department? Yet this is the government that has presided over the fiasco of the tax credit system and the disaster that is the Child Support Agency.
Local government has been emasculated as councils have lost control over their budgets and have to meet targets set in Whitehall. John Prescott is even rumoured to want to abolish next year’s local elections!
By accruing ever more power in Whitehall, Labour behaves as if the state knows best how people should run their lives.
The government talks about wanting to promote personal responsibility, but their nannyish demeanour too often has the opposite effect. None of this will change under Gordon Brown, or David Cameron. Both are competing solely on the basis that they can give better management to the lumbering behemoth that is central government.We need to put the values back into our politics. British politics does not need a third management party. An injection of liberal values is the only way to undo years of centralisation, bring back local control and accountability, and help people to take responsibility for their own lives.
ENDS
Operational note: not for publication
- Who:
- Ming Campbell MP, Lord Jones of Cheltenham, Jenny Willott MP
- What:
- Speech and question and answer session
- Where:
- Gloscat Further Education College, Cheltenham campus, Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham, GL51 7SJ
01242 532000 - When:
- Friday 10th February, 7pm-8.30pm
- Media slots:
- One-to-one interview slots will available at a venue close to the college from 6.15-6.45 (earlier slots can also be accommodated for broadcast purposes). Please contact Liz Peplow, 07879 494647 to book times and confirm venue.
