By-election results show that only the Lib Dems can beat Labour in Croydon

6.21.19pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 18th Jul 2004

Only the Lib Dems can beat Labour in Croydon

"The results in the Leicester South and Birmingham Hodge Hill Parliamentary by-elections show that Labour can be beaten in Croydon and that only the Liberal Democrats can do it," says Cllr Ian Atkins, commenting on the surge to the Liberal Democrats in the July 15th elections.

"On the swing in Birmingham Hodge Hill, the Liberal Democrats would gain both Croydon North and Croydon Central from Labour."

"People in Croydon are hurt that Labour has broken so many promises."

"Above all the public don't feel Tony Blair can be trusted. It's a sign of the times, though,

that they didn't trust the Conservatives either."

"As the Tories are the 'official opposition', they should have been the obvious choice for

those disillusioned with the so-called Government, but they weren't."

"The Tories were never even in the race. It's an extraordinary reflection of how much Michael Howard's party is in decline that their popularity is falling and they finished with

two poor third places."

"Leicester is not, as the Conservatives are trying to make out, a 'difficult' inner city

seats: the Tories held it under Thatcher, and they made huge efforts to win."

"The people of Leicester voted Liberal Democrat because of interest in Liberal Democrat

policies, as well as disillusionment with Labour."

"People in Leicester supported Liberal Democrat plans to axe the council tax."

"People in Leicester supported Liberal Democrat plans to scrap tuition and top up fees for

students."