Get Whitehall off Our Backs

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 28th Apr 2003

In a message to Liberal Democrat activists today, Liberal Democrat Euro MP Andrew Duff has said:

"Thursday's council elections are a great chance to for the Lib Dems to make further progress in the East of England. Our canvassing across the region shows we are well placed to take Council seats from both the Labour and Conservative parties.

"I myself have been campaigning from Watford to North Norfolk and many places in between. The record of Liberal Democrat run councils in places such as Brentwood, Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire, Norwich, South Norfolk and Three Rivers is likely to be rewarded by a renewed vote of confidence by the electorate.

"The Liberal Democrat message is that the Council Tax has to be replaced by a fairer and more progressive tax that will properly enable local authorities to shoulder their responsibilities. Business rates should be locally raised and locally spent. Whitehall must get off the backs of local government.

"Care for the natural environment informs all our policies. And the Lib Dem approach to enriching the sense of civic community is widely appreciated.

"On the doorsteps people are tell me that the Labour Government has lost their trust, while the Tories are clearly not thought of as a viable alternative.

"Well done for all the hard work - and good luck for Thursday."