CORNISH LIB DEMS PUT FAIRNESS AT HEART OF THEIR CAMPAIGN (Julia Goldsworthy)

Julia Goldsworthy <info@juliagoldsworthy.org>

CORNISH LIB DEMS PUT FAIRNESS AT HEART OF THEIR CAMPAIGN

February 9, 2010 12:00 PM

Paddy Ashdown with the Lib Dem MPs and PPCs outside St Columb Minor Primary School.

The Liberal Democrats kicked-off their campaign last week, with promises to continue their work to get a fair deal for people in Cornwall.

The party's MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates were joined by former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown in a visit to St Columb Minor Primary School, near Newquay.

Key successes already secured by the Liberal Democrat Cornish Parliamentary Team include winning an extra £90 million in funding for Cornwall's NHS, and achieving progress on getting water bills in the South West reduced.

At Friday's launch they highlighted how people in Cornwall would benefit from pledges that are being made by the Liberal Democrats in the run up to the General Election. Under Lib Dem plans, changes to the tax system would mean an estimated 20,000 Cornish workers would no longer pay tax. With no one paying income tax on the first £10,000 they earn, the average Cornish taxpayer will be £700 a year better off.

Huge importance was also given to securing a fair deal for Cornwall's schools and pupils. Under current arrangements, students in Cornwall lose out to the tune of more than £300 funding per year compared to the national average. Lib Dem plans to invest in education would see Cornwall benefit by £22 million, putting right at a stroke the unfairness that has been perpetuated by consecutive Labour and Conservative Governments.

Commenting, Julia said:

"Our pledges for fairer taxes and a fair start in life for people in Cornwall stand in stark contrast to the decades of neglect from consecutive Conservative and Labour Governments.

"From health funding, to post office closures, job cuts, second homes and water bills, both Labour and the Conservatives are nowhere on the issues that really matter to people locally.

"Local Lib Dem campaigns have always focused on the issues that matter most to local people. We have secured some important successes on health funding and water bills, but there is still much that needs to change. This launch was about setting out very clearly the big changes that we want to see to ensure people in Cornwall get the fair treatment we deserve."