SIMON MCDOUGALL'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE

4.14.38pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 2nd Jan 2008

Cllr. Simon McDougall - Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Arun District Council

The Liberal Democrats start 2008 with renewed energy after the recent election of Nick Clegg as our leader. The most volatile polling information in history shows that a lot is at stake for all 3 parties. Labour under Gordon Brown are showing the first signs of going into terminal decline and the challenge for Gordon this year is to keep the economy on course and prevent misery for millions. However early signs show that the erosion of yet more civil liberties are at the heart of his agenda by pushing through detention without charge for terrorist suspects from the current 28 days to 42 days (a prison sentence in any other name) when all professional advice seems to support the current legislation as it is. More worryingly he seems determined to push through the misguided legislation to make the creepy ID database compulsory despite the current competence level of Whitehall departments keeping personal information safe. This is the classic case of big brother watching and snooping into our daily lives. As for the cost that would be much better spent by putting Bobbies on the street and investing in the safety of residents in their daily lives.

David Cameron has reach giddy heights in the polls 13% clear of Labour one minute and then only 5% clear the next. I don't think the country are ready to see him as the next Prime Minister and are starting to see through the rhetoric he continues to preach. He seems to of caught the disease of other Tory leaders before him of being opportunistic without any true substance. His conviction to the environment, social mobility, the family rings hollow and appears to be only skin deep. There seems to be something lacking one day Dave you are going to need to put flesh on these bones and then I think the nation will see the Conservative's for what they truly are.

The Liberal Democrat message is clear:

Putting British families back in control of their everyday lives will be at the heart of everything we stand for.

In control of their time, not fighting to make space for family life between the demands of work and the burden of bills.

In control of their own privacy, not forced to submit personal information to a massive government identity database.

Giving power and responsibility to families - of every shape and size, of every background - is the only way to make sure everyone has a fair chance in life.

We will not tolerate a country in which the poorest people die 13 years sooner than the richest, lone parent families are twice as likely to get attacked or burgled, and the poorest pupils are twice as likely to fail their GCSEs.

We believe no-one should be condemned by the circumstances of their birth. And I am certain that is what the British people believe, too. We are a nation with a strong sense of fair play, and natural justice.

The challenge for our party is to persuade those people that their home is with the Liberal Democrats. We will do it by putting social mobility - a fair deal for every family - at the heart of our message.

That means investment in education, so every child gets the best start in life. I will campaign relentlessly for a "pupil premium" to bring spending for the poorest children up to private school levels.

It also means cutting taxes for low and income families, and reforming tax credits so that no family is ever again plunged into debt by crippling repayments enforced by an incompetent government.

So we will campaign for flexible working, shared parental leave, and flexible benefits for all families.