Blair names the day - Chris Coleman confident

7.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Apr 2005

Responding to the news that Tony Blair has named May 5th as the day for the General Election, the Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for the Forest of Dean Chris Coleman said:

"At last, after months of speculation, we can start the campaign proper. Over the past few months in the run-up to the Election, we have been getting a great response from the people of the Forest of Dean. More and more people agree that locally and nationally it is time for a change.

"I am personally looking forward to mounting a very strong campaign and meeting many thousands of people over the next 30 days.

"We have had 8 years of a New Labour MP here and eight years of this New Labour Government. It is time for a real alternative.

"We need an MP who will fight for local schools and hospitals. We need an MP who will campaign for better pensions and for real local action to get the jobs, affordable housing and decent transport that the Forest of Dean is crying out for. We need an MP who will fight to axe the unfair Council Tax which is hitting local people very hard.

"Yet another win for New Labour will not change a thing and a return for Michael Howard's Conservatives would be a disaster.

"The Liberal Democrats will be taking a positive message to local people in this campaign. I am determined to be a strong and independent voice for the Forest of Dean. If elected, I will live and work in here and I will represent the whole community."