COUNTY LIBERAL DEMOCRATS FEED LOCAL CONCERNS INTO NATIONAL MANIFESTO

Published on Tue 5th Jun 2007

Attached picture shows from left to right: Steve Webb, MP for Northavon; Cllr Roger Brown, Gloucestershire County Council Lib Dem Chairman; Cllr Jeremy Hilton, Gloucestershire County Council Lib Dem Group Leader.

On Saturday, Liberal Democrats from across Gloucestershire gathered in Gloucester, for their six-monthly county conference.

All Districts of the County were represented among the delegates, who numbered over 30 and were mostly District and County councillors.

Steve Webb, MP for Northavon, led the conference's afternoon session. Steve, who chairs the group writing the Liberal Democrat general election manifesto, addressed the conference on campaigning issues before listening to the concerns of local Gloucestershire representatives and calling for suggestions for the manifesto.

Steve Webb said:

"It was a pleasure to come to Gloucestershire for this extremely worthwhile and helpful session. My colleagues in Gloucestershire are very concerned by a variety of issues which are making life difficult for local people. I can see by the number of lively ideas that they are working very hard to address these problems. There are particular concerns about the bureaucratic culture of targets in the public sector as well as the prevalence of debt among private individuals, which is especially depressing for young people. I think with consultations such as these we can put together a general election manifesto which will be attractive to everyone, and I am confident we can address many of the concerns felt in Gloucestershire."

He added:

"My colleagues in Gloucestershire also have their eyes on the ball when it comes to local government, and I hope they can enjoy more and more opportunities to make things work locally and put their problem-solving ideas into action."

Cllr Jeremy Hilton, Liberal Democrat group leader, said:

"Our conference was very positive and we enjoyed an excellent turnout. Before Steve arrived we had a number of fruitful debates about important local county issues, such as tidal energy in the Severn and the scheme to build a park and ride facility at Elmbridge Court. We are very grateful to Steve for the opportunity to bring the local needs of our constituents to his personal attention as he develops the party's manifesto for the next general election."