Martin Tod pledges to offer "a real alternative" at campaign launch in Andover

11.29.33am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Apr 2005

Martin Tod with Charles Kennedy

Addressing members of Andover Liberal Democrats in the Wolversdene Club, Love Lane, Andover on Tuesday, April 5, 2005, Martin Tod, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for North West Hampshire pledged to offer "a real alternative" to the Conservatives and Labour in the coming campaign.

Martin Tod, 40, commented: "More and more people are looking to the Liberal Democrats to provide a real alternative to Labour and the Conservatives. Labour's top-down policies are failing the area. Even after supposedly pumping millions into the NHS, we're seeing the threat of cuts to the NHS in Andover and Mid-Hampshire because the bureaucratic Whitehall-knows-best approach is failing. We need to free doctors and nurses from Whitehall and have more local accountability. Local teachers and health professionals spend too much time filling in forms instead of spending time with pupils and patients."

He then highlighted Liberal Democrat differences with the Conservatives. "The Conservatives have failed to oppose the Government on important issues such as Iraq, the Council Tax and ID cards. I'm also concerned that, like Labour, they don't have an ambitious enough plan to tackle the problems of the environment."

After highlighting Liberal Democrat plans to scrap tuition and top-up fees, for more police and for smaller class sizes, and explaining how these policies would be funded, Mr Tod was asked about Liberal Democrat policies for pensioners. "We're proposing to add £100 a month to pensions for the over-75s" he commented. "Pensioners also will benefit from our policy to scrap the council tax and for free personal care."

In his closing remarks, Mr Tod expressed confidence in the Liberal Democrats' local campaign. "Charles Kennedy said earlier today that there are no no-go areas for the Liberal Democrats at this election. This is doubly true in North West Hampshire. There are Liberal Democrat MPs all around us - in Romsey, Newbury and Winchester. And, with our strongest campaign for over 20 years, I truly believe that North West Hampshire will be next."