Conference, these are exciting times to be a Liberal Democrat. We are a passionate,
principled party, driven by our beliefs in freedom, fairness and trust. We
always have been – but this time we have also been the real, principled opposition
in this Parliament and in the election to come, we are now the real alternative.
Our passion is matched by confidence and our expectations are matched by
our achievements.
I’ve worked on previous manifestos, but this time it’s been different. Let
me tell you why.
When out knocking on doors, we no longer have to be content with theory.
Now, we can show them how Liberal Democrats really make the difference. In
Scotland, we abolished all tuition fees. In Scotland, we’re implementing
free personal care for the elderly, and people right across the country,
from the Orkneys to Land’s End, have seen the Liberal Democrats become the
only effective opposition to Labour. The real alternative. Tried and tested.
Only the Liberal Democrats stood up to the Government on the war in Iraq,
while the Tories cheered Bush and Blair from the sidelines.
Only the Liberal Democrats are taking the environment seriously – Environmental
issues don’t even feature on Labour’s ‘pledge cards’. There’ll be a vivid
green thread running right through our manifesto, with clear commitments
to cut pollution, cut congestion and boost renewable energy.
The Liberal Democrats are the real alternative.
We’ve also proved to be the real alternative on health, education, crime,
transport. While the other parties compete over the narrow ground of “choice”,
only the Liberal Democrats offer cogent, practical solutions to the challenges
facing our public services.
Conference, I ask you –
Who would choose a poor hospital?
Who would choose a bad school?
Who would choose an inadequate pension?
These are false choices.
Why do they talk so much about choice?
Because they’ve failed to deliver on quality.
Labour has finally, years late, taken our agenda to invest in public services.
But they have insisted on micromanaging every penny with absurd targets and
red tape – the “Gordon Brown approach” – we have consistently opposed
that. Micromanagement is mismanagement. We will trust locally-elected people,
not distant bureaucrats. We will say that doctors, nurses, teachers and the
police on the front line should be allowed to get on with their jobs. For
vibrant, successful local communities, the Liberal Democrats are the real
alternative.
18 years ago, I became one of just 18 Liberal Democrat members of parliament.
Politics has transformed since then. 55 Liberal Democrat MPs, 12 MEPs, power
in the Scottish Parliament and I’m confident that more change is to come
this time. Amongst you in this hall, there are people determined to make
this change happen. Some of you will soon become MPs
And many of you are already in power: in councils, in Scotland, and in the
European Parliament. Not, yet, in Westminster.
But we are the principle opposition to Labour in the cities,
and we are the winning alternative to the Conservatives in the country.
I ask you all to take our philosophy and our policies, show how they apply
to local issues and how we will work for Britain,
make plain our record of action and set out our plans for more.
Defeated in Brent and Leicester, the Conservatives said they were not “natural
territory”. Well, I have news for them.
We are not limited by “natural territory” – whether towns, cities or rural
communities, There are no “no-go” areas for the Liberal Democrats. Our “natural
territory” is the British people.
Let’s tell Britain what we stand for:
Freedom, fairness and trust.
Conference, our voice is being heard. This time, the choice is clear. This
time, the real alternative. Let’s make it, this time, the Liberal Democrats.
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Front page
Published by Matthew Taylor MP, 10 South Street, St Austell, Cornwall PL25
5BH
Printed and hosted by Nextra, Global House, Ashley Avenue, Epsom, Surrey,
KT18 5AD. |
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