Lib Dem campaign to win Bristol West off to a flying start

11.45.39am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Apr 2005

Stephen Williams and the Lib Dems are winning for Bristol!

Stephen Williams has launched his campaign to become the next MP for Bristol West. He is hopeful of winning the seat having been the runner up four years ago to the sitting Labour MP. As soon as the election was called Liberal Democrat volunteers began delivering 50,000 leaflets across the constituency.

"I'm delighted that Tony Blair has at last called the general election. Bristol West voters will now be able to decide whether they want to keep Mr Blair's local representative or vote for the real alternative in this seat, the Liberal Democrats. The election will be a re-match between myself and Valerie Davey, with the new Conservative candidate having no chance of winning."

"The big issues in Bristol West will be health, education, transport and also trust of politicians. I will campaign for investment in the BRI and Southmead. I oppose Labour's top up fees for students. I want to see a transformation of Bristol's awful public transport. I opposed the war in Iraq. My promise to Bristol West residents is that as their new MP I will always be open with them, will not fudge my views and will speak up for Bristol."

"Bristol West needs an MP who will be true to his principles. Anyone who knows me will know that it is not in my nature to be a fence sitter. But our MP for the last eight years has failed to vote on several key issues. She failed to oppose foundation hospitals. She twice failed to oppose top up fees. She failed to vote in the final key vote in the Iraq war debate, on the Prime Minister's motion authorising the war in Iraq. These were huge issues of concern in Bristol West. What is the point of an MP who cannot express a clear opinion on any of them? What is worse is that under electoral pressure she is now desperately trying to rewrite the

records in her favour. Bristol West deserves better than this!"

Stephen Williams was the runner up to Valerie Davey at the last election in 2001, when the Conservatives were pushed into third place. Since then there have been three elections in Bristol West. In the 2002 City Council elections the Liberal Democrats topped the poll. At the mid point of this Parliament in 2003 the Lib Dems again came first in the City Council elections. And at the June 2004 election to the European Parliament the Liberal Democrats were the winners within the Bristol West boundary. Bristol West is the second most likely seat in England to switch from Labour to Liberal Democrat.