Kennedy rallies Lib Dems at election strategy summit
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy is holding a special summit of MPs and Parliamentary candidates this weekend to plan the party’s election campaign strategy.
Following the return of Alan Milburn to the Cabinet as election planning chief and the reshuffle of the Conservative front bench, and as the political parties prepare to stage what are expected to be their final party conferences before the general election, the Liberal Democrats are preparing their approach.
Mr Kennedy declared, ” The Liberal Democrats enter this new political year, gaining in strength, up in the polls and with a popular and affordable programme for Britain.
“In Brent East, in Leicester South and now in Hartlepool, people are turning to the Liberal Democrats for answers. Over Iraq, on Tuition fees, on the Council Tax, on Pensions, on our public services, it is the Liberal Democrat approach that strikes a chord with people.”
Acknowledging the attention his party has received from Labour and the Conservatives in recent years, Mr Kennedy added, “In this new era of three party politics, everything we say and everything we do will be scrutinised by the voters, by the media and our opponents as never before.”
The Liberal Democrats hold their party conference in Bournemouth between Sunday September 19 and Thursday 23.
The agenda remains a closely guarded secret, which will not be released until Wednesday 15.
The Lib Dems also release a pre-manifesto document, entitled “Freedom, Fairness, Trust” on Tuesday.
