Stroud Liberal Democrats

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg used his speech to the Party's Spring conference in NewcastleGateshead to call for the forthcoming budget to be a "budget for fairness" and pledged that it would help working familes.

The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that by 2015 Britain would have seen an end to control orders, the first gay marriages and the first elections to the House of Lords.

Fairer taxes, promoting green jobs, protecting your civil liberties - these are just some of the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government.

We're building a freer, greener and more liberal country - and stopping some of the worst excesses of the Conservatives. Find out more in this infographic.

In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

On 5th May you have a choice. You can keep the discredited First Past the Post system to elect our MPs, or you can choose a new and fairer system - Alternative Vote (AV). Back the campaign for change at www.YesToFairerVotes.org

AV is a small change that makes a big difference.

Saying YES! to Fairer Votes Means:

Last night was the final of the three televised Leaders' debates. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, debated with Gordon Brown and David Cameron about the economy. Subjects discussed included breaking up the banks, creating more jobs and reinvigorating the British economy.

Most post-debate polls scored this final debate to David Cameron, but again put Nick Clegg clearly ahead of Gordon Brown. An analysis by pollsters Angus Reid of previously undecided voters who watched the debate gave Nick Clegg 37%, David Cameron 25%, Gordon Brown 22% and Not sure 16%. Angus Reid found that 32% of undecided voters say they are now more likely to vote for the Liberal Democrats after watching the final debate, with just 18% Conservative and 15% Labour.

An average of five polls conducted immediately after the Sky TV Leaders Election debate on Thursday night put Nick Clegg as the winner, with all instant polls showing him ahead of Gordon Brown. After the Foreign Affairs-led debate from Bristol dominated by issues like Iraq, immigration and climate change, Nick Clegg won 3 of the 5 polls on the night, building on his position after the first debate.

The second Party Leaders Debate is taking place this Thursday starting at 8pm on Sky News. Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron will again be going head to head in a TV debate in the run up to the General Election on May 6th, this time leading on Foreign Affairs.

The first half of the 90 minute Election Debate on Sky News will be devoted to Foreign Affairs, with the rest on any topic. The debate comes from Bristol, and will be chaired by Adam Boulton. Sky are inviting questions before the debate, with more information at http://news.sky.com/skynews/Election/debatequestion

Dennis Andrewartha

Liberal Democrat PPC for Stroud

Dennis Andrewartha has lived in Cam for over 25 years and represented his community at all levels of local government. He leads the Lib-Dems at Stroud District Council and is determined to ensure that the £m's of over expenditure and loss making investments presided over by the Tory administration is never repeated. Together with his colleagues he will seek to drastically improve our recycling levels to make Stroud the best rather than the worst in Gloucestershire and to provide additional grant aid for energy efficiency improvements in public buildings. He also pledges that he will not allow Cam to become the chosen site for the masses of extra homes proposed for Stroud.

Our Local Manifesto

Stroud District Council Elections May 6th 2010

Liberal Democrats will:

• enforce financial rules to ensure recent poor investments and massive overspending by Stroud's Tory administration is never repeated;
• press for reform of the Council Tax system to make it fair and just for all;
• keep managers in our sheltered accommodation;
• ensure that 40% of homes built across the District are affordable;
• meet the majority of the District's housing need by creating new homes along the canal corridor, to benefit from the investment in jobs that the developments alongside the canal will bring
• seek to prevent viable business sites being destroyed to provide housing at the expense of local jobs;
• ensure all council services protect and enhance our environment
• use the planning system to promote developments that incorporate local power generation and are carbon neutral.
• make our streets cleaner and enforce existing laws to reduce litter and dog fouling;
• actively support the retention and development of recreational and sports facilities and play areas for young people, with meaningful partnerships between the District Council, town and parish councils and voluntary organisations;
• increase our recycling figures to 60% and provide grant aid for energy efficiency improvements in community buildings;
• encourage rural public and community transport provision whilst ensuring all new developments have adequate car parking;
• encourage tourism, helping to make our communities more vibrant, enhancing business opportunities and creating employment;
• further develop partnerships with the police, neighbourhood wardens, town and parish councils and youth leaders to fight against crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour, and
• actively support the excellent work of our voluntary organisations with financial, administrative and technical help.