Liberal Democrats - The Real Opposition

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th Jan 2005

Charles Kennedy: "The truth is that the majority of people in this country now see the Liberal Democrats as the Real Opposition."

Charles Kennedy MP, Liberal Democrat Leader, today launched the Party's strategy for the General Election, as he embarks on a series of visits to key constituencies. Under the slogan of 'The Real Opposition', Mr. Kennedy outlined the Liberal Democrats key campaigning themes and policy pledges.

Mr Kennedy said:

"The truth is that the majority of people in this country now see the Liberal Democrats as the Real Opposition. They don't believe we should limit our ambitions. And I want to tell you that there is no limit to our ambitions.

"On so many issues it is the Liberal Democrats who have challenged this Government. We asked the critical questions, while the Conservatives have lined up with Labour.

"The Conservatives have been fading away as a truly national party. Across a third of the country they are not even in contention anymore. And this Labour Government has used up the trust and goodwill of people."

"At the General Election, the public will have the opportunity to vote for the real opposition in Britain: the Liberal Democrats.

"And we will be fighting both Labour and Conservatives. This will be real three party politics."

Mr Kennedy went on to outline the Party's key themes and priorities for the campaign:

"We believe that Government in Britain should improve the quality of peoples' lives and improve the quality of our public services in every local community.

"We believe that Government in Britain is there to protect people from terrorism and from the worst criminality; but never at the expense of our civil liberties and the basic tenets of our legal system.

"We believe that Government in Britain should be working to restore our reputation on the international stage after Iraq and engage better within Europe.

"Being the real opposition to the Labour Government has meant taking the tough choices necessary to present credible and costed policies. We want a strong, vibrant economy for Britain so that we can set out a clear and affordable alternative programme for Government."

Mr Kennedy outlined his Party's priorities for the General Election:

A quality local health service - putting patients first and freeing doctors and nurses from Whitehall meddling so they can get on with giving patients the first class attention they deserve.

Equipping children to make the best of their lives and get the best out of their education by cutting class sizes and making sure teachers get the time to teach.

Helping parents too - to give their children the best start. We would provide more early years support and nursery school places.

An end to the unfair Council Tax - local tax should be based on the ability to pay.

A Citizens Pension paid equally to men and women, with an end to demeaning means testing and £100 a month on pensions for the over 75's.

Free personal care for the elderly.

An end to university top-up and tuition fees - because access to university should be based on ability to learn not on what they can afford to pay.

A tough liberal approach to crime - 10,000 more police on the streets, cutting re-offending rates, getting to grips with the causes of crime.

Underpinning all of these and at the core of our thinking, we want Britain living up to its responsibilities on the international stage and on the environment.