Change is Coming! Be Part of It! (Chingford and Woodford Green Liberal Democrats)

Chingford and Woodford Green Liberal Democrats <info@cwglibdems.org.uk>

Change is Coming! Be Part of It!

April 30, 2010 10:45 PM

Geoff Seeff ready for the last week of the campaign

LibDem parliamentary candidate, Dr Geoff Seeff, has issued a powerful personal appeal to the voters of Chingford and Woodford Green. He has sent an e-mail to supporters in which he sets out what he regards as the most compelling reason for voting LibDem on this occasion and he asks that they forward it on to friends and relatives in the constituency who they think might agree with the sentiment. Geoff hopes that within a few days some 20,000 households will have received the message.

The text of the appeal follows;

Following the final leadership debate there can be no doubt, that the Liberal Democrats under Nick Clegg are poised to make an indelible mark on the politics of our country. Perhaps for the first time in nearly a century, the Liberal Democrat voice is being broadcast loud and clear. And people like what they hear - fairness and commonsense. From a position where the two

main parties attempted to marginalise the Liberal Democrats, they now have to deal with us on an equal footing - and they don't much like it.

Nick Clegg has presented our key policy priorities, all based around fairness. Fairness in taxation so that those earning less than £10,000 per annum pay no tax at all whilst those on middle incomes will receive a reduction of several hundred pounds; fairness of opportunities so that disadvantaged youngsters or those who fall behind at school are given the help they need to catch up; and fairness in our economy so that never again are we at the mercy of the bankers.

However, there is one policy that I regard as having overriding importance - that of electoral and constitutional reform. This embraces fair voting, restricting donations to parties, reducing the size of the House of Commons, making the House of Lords an elected chamber, ensuring MPs are full time representatives and making them accountable for their actions.

If we fail to get the system right this time we have no hope of ever coming to the right decisions - by which I mean decisions that resolve our economic and social problems and which are perceived as fair by the majority of electors.

Charter 2010, an independent think tank, has provided a detailed analysis of each of the party manifestos on five criteria of democracy; fair and free elections; civil liberties; accountable government, localism and openness of information. Liberal Democrats are awarded a score of 81% compared to Labour's 45.5% and the Tories 46%.

Although they have been embarrassed into talking about reform because of the issue of MP's expenses, neither the Tories nor Labour will act on it if they win an outright majority on May 6th. They will have no incentive to do so; rather the reverse as their backers will not allow them to dilute their influence. So I say, the best hope for real change and real reform is a Liberal Democrat government or, failing that, a balanced parliament.

If you agree with me that reform of the electoral and constitutional system is essential you can help bring it about in three

ways;

* Voting for me on May 6th

* Printing off and displaying in your window the attached poster - encouraging us and letting your neighbours know change is on the way.

* Forwarding this e-mail to 5 contacts you have in the constituency who you think would support the need for real reform and asking them to forward it on to 5 others.

If, in the past, you have been tempted to vote Liberal Democrat but thought that it would be a "wasted" vote this is the time to go with your instincts. Our canvassing shows a surge in support across the constituency. Your vote will count because, regardless of the outcome in Chingford and Woodford Green, it will add weight to the call to the next government, of whatever composition, to make reform top of the agenda.