Liberal Democrats are delivering for people across the nation, working across the UK for the millions, not the millionaires. We have not retreated from our responsibility to act in the national interest and we will not miss the opportunity we have to build a greener, fairer and more liberal Britain.

Scott Collins, Candidate for the Silverstone Division in the upcoming County Council elections, commented:

“As a party we have suffered many accusations of selling our soul to prop up a Conservative Party that failed to gain a majority in 2010 but through Liberal Democrats being in Government we have made a difference and ensured that we are moving towards a fairer tax system, supporting schools, helped pensioners by ensuring they will never again be insulted with a pittance of a rise as given under the last Labour Government by introducing the triple lock guarantee for a fairer rise in pensions year on year.

These are things that would not have happened under a solely Conservative Government. It grieves me to see Conservative MP’s and Councillors claiming plaudits for actions they simply wouldn’t have done if they had had sole charge of the Government.”

Liberal Democrats have:

1. Given £1.9bn extra to our schools, aimed at the most disadvantaged pupils
2. Raised the Income Tax threshold again, increasing the number of people lifted out of paying income tax altogether to more than 2m
3. Given nearly 25m people a further Income Tax cut, bringing the total amount to £600 since Labour’s last year in office.
4. Ensured pensioners on the full state pension get a 2.5% a week increase in their pensions, more than inflation or rise in earnings would have given them thanks to our pensions triple lock.

The Liberal Democrats are building a stronger economy in a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life.

The Labour Record in Local Government

Labour’s local government record is one of waste, inefficiency and vanity projects. For example:

• Derby Labour used residents’ money to fund emotive street posters to pass the blame for cuts decisions onto the government while refusing government funding to freeze council tax.
• Salford Council has appointed a spin doctor on £66,000 a year.
• Sheffield spend half a million pounds a year on trade union officials while planning to cut half of the city’s libraries.
• Cardiff is recruiting a PR guru for the leader on £80,000 while making cuts of £22m.
• Islington Labour has spent £4.5m on redundancy payments to lay-off nearly 400 staff while spending £8m on agency workers.

Only the Liberal Democrats will build a stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life.

The Conservative record in Local Government

The Conservative’s local government record is one of waste, inefficiency and vanity projects. For example:

• Leicestershire County Council spent £64,000 on building the Conservative Leader a new office with a private lavatory – the same week as sending over 1,000 redundancy notices
• Cornwall’s Conservative-led council hired taxis to ferry tea and coffee between offices
• Somerset Council have spent more than £36,000 on refurbishing a pond at County Hall – at a time they are making cuts to front line services including the Youth Service
• After announcing cuts of nearly £1.5m Cotswolds Council hired a motivational magician to boost staff morale – costing them£19,000
• Surrey Conservatives spent nearly £11,000 on three away days for its cabinet in Farnham Castle

Only the Liberal Democrats will build a stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life.