Lib Dem PPC responds to selection of Tory opponent

4.43.37pm GMT Mon 6th Dec 2004

Murphy: "Tories should know there's no longer such a thing as a safe seat."

Laura Murphy, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Tunbridge Wells, responded to the selection of Greg Clark as the Conservative PPC this week.

"By choosing Michael Howard's policy director, the Tories in Tunbridge Wells continue to demonstrate that they have no understanding of what is important to local people. As Tim Haines from the Times has said, "the Tories' policies are 'reheated Thatcherism' and are sops to the rich, not a 'fair deal for everyone.'"

The policies of Michael Howard are so alien to today's society that the Tory party continues to slide in popularity. A recent poll in the Independent on Sunday showed that the public consider Charles Kennedy and the Liberal Democrats more effective as opposition to the government than Michael Howard.

The message the Tories are promoting is one the public do not want to hear, particularly amongst young people.

They may think they've parachuted in Michael Howard's policy guru to shore up the parliamentary party but they should know that there is no longer such a thing as a safe Tory seat."