"We Can Only Move Forward" Says Local Lib Dem Parliamentary Contender

6.16.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 18th Dec 2007

Nick Clegg, the new leader of the Liberal Democrats

Jonathan Chatfield the Lib Dems' parliamentary spokesperson for South East Cambridgeshire welcomed the election of Nick Clegg as leader of the party saying the Lib Dem's could now move forward and champion the fight against climate change and the erosion of our civil liberties.

Jonathan Chatfield said:

"I recently pointed out the shameful carbon foot prints of our local Tory controlled councils, which are among the worst in the country, and their lacklustre efforts to encourage people and developers to do more to reduce energy consumption and minimise pollution.

"It's clear that neither the Tories nor Labour, with its airport building programme, have the enthusiasm for taking the hard action to tackle global warming.

"Nick Clegg has the determination and skills to mark out a distinctive and unique position for the Lib Dems, to give the electorate a viable and true alternative at the next general election to protect our environment and freedoms for our children's future.

"As to personal freedom, Lib Dems are not only opposed to ID cards, but also the other things Labour wants to introduce to curtail the power of the individual, such as its proposed new planning laws which will take decision making on big projects, such as motorways, away from democratic control to a quango.

"Despite Labour and Tory politicians and their supporters talking us down, we continue to gain council seats in local byelections, such as in Forest Heath recently, and have actually gained ground in national opinion polls whilst not having a leader.

"Now with Nick Clegg leading us we can only move forward."