Lib Dems on north-east local election defensive
Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have traded allegations about misleading voters as their parties fight for votes in the north-east.
Labour is looking to make significant gains against the Liberal Democrats, whose decision to enter into a coalition government imposing massive spending cuts does not play well in a region heavily dependent on the public sector.
Mr Miliband used a speech in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to claim that the Lib Dems had “broken their promises”. Labour have 34 seats on the city’s council compared to the Lib Dems’ 42.
The Lib Dems had trebled tuition fees when they had promised to scrap tuition fees, backed raising VAT to 20% when they had promised to oppose a hike and backed faster deficit reduction plans when they had promised to support “measured” alternatives, he told supporters.
“The truth is that the Liberal Democrats are not front-seat passengers or back seat passengers in this Conservative-led government,” Mr Miliband said.
“They are locked in the boot of a vehicle which is travelling rapidly in the wrong direction.
“We may have heard some shouting coming from that boot in recent days. There is, after all, an election on. But it isn’t changing either the speed or the way this government is headed.
“Too many people who thought they were voting for a progressive party a year ago have been betrayed.”
Mr Miliband did not shy away from singling out deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, who he said had “looked viewers in the eye” during the general election campaign’s televised debates before going back on his word.
The Lib Dem leader was in Yorkshire and the Humber this morning, telling a rally of supporters in his home city of Sheffield – another Lib Dem held council – that Labour were the party of “politics before people”.
“While Labour trampled on your civil liberties, the Liberal Democrats scrapped ID cards and destroyed the national identity database,” he said.
“While Labour promised a referendum on electoral reform in 1997, the Liberal Democrats are delivering on that in 2011.
“The LDs have given councils more power to make decisions the way they see fit. The only power Labour gave to councils was the power to snoop on your bins.”
The Lib Dems hold 42 seats on Sheffield city council, with Labour just five behind on 37. Mr Clegg represents Sheffield Hallam in parliament.
