South East gears up for General Election

7.10.21pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 27th Mar 2005

Norman Baker, MP and Sue Sue Doughty, MP at SE Region Conference

Liberal Democrats gathered last week at Godalming to hear the latest news from senior party members Lord Razzell and Lord Dholakia. Speaking about the "WE OPPOSE, WE PROPOSE", 10 GOOD REASONS TO VOTE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT campaign, Lord Razzell reminded the SE Region Conference that the Liberal Democrats were the only party to put forward real solutions for real people in real situations.

They also heard that with no Conservative MPs likely to be elected in Scotland or Wales and with declining bases in England, the Conservatives could not win the General Election. Lord Dholakia gave a call to arms as he spoke about priorities for the next Parliament, with the Liberal Democrats as the effective opposition.

John Barstow, PPC for Tonbridge & Malling put forward a motion to Conference for "Her Majesty's Government to re-open the missing Uckfield-Lewes Rail Line, to re-double the track to allow for increased capacity and to actively support similar cases for upgrading areas of the rail network across Kent and Sussex, given the environmental and economic benefits and need to ease road congestion."

Norman Baker, MP, spoke for the motion and Laura Murphy, PPC for Tunbridge Wells, seconded the motion, which was passed unanimously by the Conference.

Laura said, "Restoration and upgrading lines in Kent and Sussex would make an enormous impact on the traffic congestion in Tunbridge Wells in particular, as well as bringing economic benefits to the area."