LIBERAL DEMOCRATS TAKE ON LABOUR AND CONSERVATIVES IN NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 9th Apr 2005

The Liberal Democrats today pledged that there will be no 'no-go' areas for the Party in this General Election campaign. In a high profile visit to Michael Howard's marginal Folkestone & Hythe seat, Edward Davey MP, Liberal Democrat Local Government Spokesman, will be campaigning to scrap the Council Tax.

Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat Party President, will visit Brent East - a seat the Party gained in a 2003 by-election with a 29% swing from Labour In Folkestone, Mr Davey will warn that Conservative spending plans would add an extra £100 to every family's Council Tax bill. He will say:

"The Tories pretend they're going to solve the Council Tax crisis, but the truth is they're going to make it worse.

"Michael Howard brought in Council Tax, and now his Party wants to increase it. It's time to scrap the unfair Council Tax and replace it with a fair system based on ability to pay."

In Brent Mr Hughes will say:

"There are now no 'no-go' areas for the Liberal Democrats. In communities up and down the country, more and more people are looking to us as an alternative to Labour's tired promises and empty rhetoric.

"With the Conservatives now virtually irrelevant in Britain's major towns and cities it is the Liberal Democrats who are the real alternative to Labour."

ENDS