Sir Menzies Campbell’s election as Leader of the Liberal Democrats has left the Haringey Liberal Democrats with a sense of optimism and conviction, and they are now gearing up to fight Labour for control of Haringey Council in May’s council elections.

The final election count was held locally at the Electoral Reform Services Election Centre on Clarendon Road in Noel Park. Sir Menzies’ election coincides with a resurgence of national support for the Liberal Democrats across the country in recent polls – a recent MORI poll shows that national support has risen in recent weeks – up 3 points since January.

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Ming will lead a charge against inequality in what has become an ever widening gap between the rich and the poor under Blair and before that the Tories. That is the challenge of our time and scourge of our communities. Studies show that extreme gaps create tension, crime and unhappiness – for everyone. Our challenge is to close the gap.

“Moreover, Ming has put at the top of his agenda the swing away from personal taxation and a move towards behaviour taxation – so that eco-taxed can both improve our environment and be used to take the lowest paid out of tax altogether. With ice caps melting global warming is no longer somewhere else or some time in the future – it is now!”

Councillor Neil Williams, Leader of the Haringey Liberal Democrat Group, said:

“With Ming at the head of our party, we feel even more confident than before about taking on the Labour Party in May. He has made it clear what the Liberal Democrats stand for – a fairer, greener, more locally governed and democratic Britain that is at peace with itself both at home and abroad.

“The complacency and incompetence of the Haringey Labour party has not gone unnoticed by local people. Just as the British are fed up with the Labour party’s poor record on value for money on a national level, the people of Haringey are fed up with Labour wasting their Council Taxes and providing poor local services. I look forward to May when local people will get the chance to decide who they believe should be running the Council.”