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Lib Dems set to challenge Labour again July 24, 2004

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The Liberal Democrats are poised to seriously challenge Labour in the Hartlepool by-election, due after Peter Mandelson’s appointment as European Commissioner.

The recent local and Euro election results show that the Lib Dems are on the march across the North East.

In Newcastle the Lib Dems took control of the council after years of Labour rule. In the European elections the Lib Dems gained their first ever MEP in the North East.

The local election results in Hartlepool showed that the Lib Dems are the real challengers to Labour across the town. Of the votes cast for the major parties, the Lib Dems finished a close second to Labour.

In the most recent parliamentary by-elections, the Liberal Democrats stormed to victory in Brent East and Leicester South, and almost won in Birmingham Hodge Hill – both previously safe Labour seats. In all seats, the Conservatives were pushed into third – only the Liberal Democrats are serious challengers to Labour.

Lib Dems Clear Challengers to Labour in Hartlepool: Rennard July 23, 2004

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The Liberal Democrats are the clear challengers to Labour in Hartlepool, Liberal Democrat Chief Executive Lord Chris Rennard said today.

Lord Rennard said:

“Peter Mandelson is an able organiser with strong pro-European values, but he has also made himself a hate figure in much of his own party and the media.

“The Labour vote in Hartlepool was down to 31% in the local elections in June with the Liberal Democrats the clear challengers to Labour with 23% of the vote and only 12% for the Conservatives.

“Liberal Democrats will be fighting the by-election as the clear challengers to Labour at a time when public trust in Labour is at an all-time low.”

The 2004 Local Elections results in Hartlepool show the Conservatives lying in fifth place in terms of share of the vote:

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Labour 31%
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Liberal Democrats 23%
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Independents 17%
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Others 17%
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Conservatives 12%

Mandelson Appointment “Could be Rejected” July 23, 2004

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The nomination of Peter Mandelson would play into the hands of those who claim that the European Commission is a refuge for failed politicians, says Chris Davies, Leader of the British Liberal Democrat MEPs.

He commented:

“No one doubts Peter Mandelson’s abilities or his commitment to Europe, but the nomination of a man who has twice been forced out of the Cabinet would be a gift to eurosceptics.

“Creating the impression that Britain’s top job in Europe has been given to one of ‘Tony’s cronies’ would make the battle to win a referendum on the EU constitution very much harder.”

Mr Davies warned that the nomination of Peter Mandelson could be rejected by the European Parliament.

“With European Commission president-elect, Jose Manual Barroso, claiming that he will listen to the advice of the Parliament and that he will be prepared to sack commissioners the outcome would be very uncertain.

“At the very least Mr Mandelson would face a very rocky ride when he appeared before MEPs.”

Mr Davies called on Tony Blair to break new ground by nominating a woman as Britain’s commissioner.

Save Our Hospital July 20, 2004

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Local Lib Dem Campaigners are leading the campaign to keep Hartlepool’s hospital open.

The hospital’s future is under threat as part of a review of health services in the region. It is feared that the University Hospital of Hartlepool may be closed altogether.

Lib Dems believe this could place local lives at risk. Local people could also face long and difficult journeys to get treatment.

Local residents have said that Tony Blair came to power promising better health services for local people and now he wants to shut down or downgrade our hospital. Hartlepool’s hospital must be saved.

The Lib Dems are running a major campaign to maintain hospital provision in Hartlepool. A petition has been launched and local campaigners are aiming to collect thousands of signatures in support of the hospital.

North East Lib Dem MP Alan Beith recently visited Hartlepool to give his backing to the campaign.

A local Lib Dem spokesman said:

“I know we have the residents of Hartlepool behind us. Together we can send a strong message to Tony Blair and the local health authority that we will not allow our hospital to be axed.”

Post Offices Under Threat July 20, 2004

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3000 more Post Offices to close under Labour

Labour’s Post Office closure programme is sweeping across the country leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

Thousands of Post Offices have already been closed and many more are at risk across the North East. Local Lib Dems are pledging to fight the closures.

They believe that Post Offices are a vital part of local communities across Hartlepool and the North East.

Local Lib Dem Andrew Ward said, “Post Offices provide an essential service to many in our community.

Closing branches will greatly affect the quality of life for many residents. We will fight any plans to close Post Offices in Hartlepool.”

Shame of Conservative record Post Office closures have continued under Labour despite promises by Tony Blair to maintain the Post Office network. The last Conservative Government closed an incredible four thousand Post Offices.

Andrew Ward said, “Over the last twenty years the Post Office network has been decimated in many parts of our country. It is time that these closures were stopped.”

Lib Dem Success in Parliamentary By-elections July 16, 2004

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The Liberal Democrats have won an astounding success in the Leicester South by-election, overturning a Labour majority of 13,243 to win by a margin of 1,654 votes. Parmjit Singh Gill is now the 55th Lib Dem Member of Parliament, following Sarah Teather’s success in the Brent East by-election in September 2003, where she demolished a similar Labour majority to win the seat, after a successful Lib Dem campaign in the London constituency.

The result in Leicester South was Lib Dem: 10,274; Labour: 8,620; Conservative: 5,796; Respect: 3,724. The turnout was 41.6% and the huge swing away from Labour was further evidence of the lack of trust in Tony Blair (notable for his absence during both by-elections) and the Labour Party generally. The Conservatives, having claimed to be the main challengers, came a poor third.

In Birmingham Hodge Hill, where the previous Labour majority was 11,618, Lib Dem Nicola Davies just failed to win by 460 votes, despite a huge swing from Labour of over 27%. The result was Labour: 7,451; Lib Dem 6,991; Conservative: 3,543 on a 37.9% turnout.

Labour dismissed the results as a minor setback, but a “crisis” for Michael Howard. The Conservatives said that the results showed how unpopular the government was, but ignored their own loss of percentage share of the vote.

Crack down on crime say Lib Dems July 12, 2004

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Crime has soared across the North East under Labour. Violent crime in particular is on the rise.

This is despite promises by Labour to be tough on crime and anti-social behaviour. Yet crime has continued to rise in the seven years of Labour rule. Lib Dems are calling for more Police patrol across Hartlepool to really crack down on crime and to reduce the fear of crime.

Cllr Arthur Preece said, “Many people tell me that they rarely see Police on patrol in

their street. We need a return to proper community policing to really tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in our area.”

The Lib Dems also want to see action to reduce the amount of paperwork and red tape that Police officers are forced to do.

Cllr Arthur Preece said, “Under Labour Police officers are spending more time filling

out forms and less time on the streets catching criminals. This must change.”