Kennedy backs New Liberal Agenda

12.06.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th Sep 2005

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy MP

At the Lib Dem conference in Blackpool last week Charles Kennedy outlined his plans to take the Liberal Democrats forward. Speaking at his key note speech he said, "The truth is the gentleman in Whitehall does not know best.If he had then many of the present difficulties might have been addressed more successfully and much sooner. The same is true for our public services.Labour's obsession with authoritarian central control - with this culture of target setting and micromanaging - distorts community priorities.It means that local people are making do with inadequate and badly structured services. Yet they feel they don't have the power to make real change in their communities. " Charles also outlined his commitment to provide good quality hospitals and schools in every local area, not just providing people with the choice to move to a distant but better facility.

The conference was marked by good quality debate that actually led to new lib Dem policy on a wide range of issues. A number of Hexham constituency Lib Dems attended the conference and participated. Local Councillor and Prudhoe delegate Neil Bradbury commented, "the difference between us and Labour couldn't be clearer. We openly debated controversial issues and the leadership of the party was mature enough to listen. Contrast this with Labours conference where security toughies detain an 82 year old delegate under terrorism legislation for opposing the war with Iraq."