Jonathan Chatfield re-selected to fight South East Cambridgeshire (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@secambslibdems.org.uk>

Jonathan Chatfield re-selected to fight South East Cambridgeshire

August 1, 2007 6:24 PM
By Jonathan Chatfield

Jonathan Chatfield, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for South East Cambridgeshire

I would like to thank all members of the South East Cambridgeshire local party for your support in the recent prospective parliamentary candidate selection.

It is an enormous honour and privilege to be re-selected as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for the next general election.

This is a dynamic, hi-tech constituency, but even here there are small business people swamped in red tape and bureaucracy, young people worried about the lack of affordable homes, older people who see the building of houses not communities and many others cut off and restricted by poor transport links.

In my heart of hearts, I have always known that I am a Liberal, a Democrat and an internationalist.

I am a Liberal because I believe in individual freedom; I believe that power should be forced down to as local a level as possible; and I believe that the state does not have the right to interfere in everything, setting targets and watching our every move.

I am a Democrat because I believe in freedom of information; I believe in fair votes at local and national level; and I believe in the power of the ballot box for all people, young and old, rich and poor, black and white.

I am an internationalist because when you look at Lebanon where the lack of a ceasefire led to roads, homes and hospitals being destroyed and the mass displacement of people; when you look at Palestine where there is ongoing conflict and a desperate need for a two state solution; and when you look at Iraq - Blair's defining moment - and read the recent Lancet report that 655,000 people have been killed since the invasion in 2003.

Looking to the future for the constituency

There is no magic formula to win the seat. We need to get on the doorsteps and survey, we need to campaign hard and we need to organise!

We survey to find our supporters, find new deliverers and new activists, but also to find the 12,000 Labour voters to squeeze. The gap between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives here is just over 8,000 votes, so we can win this seat on the switching of Labour voters alone!

My 15 years management experience in the world of business gives me an essential insight into the real world beyond politics and with 18,000 votes this has become a key seat for the Liberal Democrats. I make no secret of my ambition to win and my ambition to become a Member of Parliament.

I am passionate about making a difference here and I will work tirelessly to win this seat. I have been a member of this party for 19 years. I am proud of our result in 2005 and I am excited about our future prospects.

Will you join me on that journey? It will take hard work, commitment and money. Will you start by pledging a regular monthly donation into our campaign fund? Email info@secambslibdems.org.uk for more information.

Thank you once again for your tremendous support. Let's get to work.