Lib Dems are 'keeping it clean'

10.36.51am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 27th Apr 2007

Lib Dems are fighting a clean election campaign

Councillor Jeff Brooks, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, has today vowed to fight a clean and fair election campaign, without misleading the public and skewing the facts.

"It is very important that the voters in West Berkshire are given an opportunity to make their minds up based on the facts and the performance of each candidate in the field. When the Tories peddle half truths and are economical with the truth, to say the least, it drags the debate down and masks the facts and real issues that the election should be decided on, not trying to frighten people with scare tactics"

Councillor Brooks was a driving force in formulating the Liberal Democrat manifesto, which concentrates on Liberal Democrat policies and direction, rather than political point-scoring.

"Most importantly, I think it is about time that the Conservatives stopped misleading the public regarding the tax increases implemented by the Liberal Democrats for the period 1998 to 2004. During that time the national average for Band D tax increases was 7.9%. The equivalent West Berkshire Tax increase was an average of 7.1% - taken directly from a Tory leaflet".

"With better settlements received we were able to implement a low tax rise of only 3.9% in 2005", Councillor Brooks continued, "Looking to the future, we have pledged to maintain Council Tax rises at or below inflation if we are successful at the elections on 3rd May. The Tories are, in effect, telling people that we are lying and I am asking them to retract that very insulting charge. We have not resorted to smear tactics in this election and have continued to promote the positive things we plan to do".