Get in There, Fight Your Case and Win the Arguments

Thank You! On 23rd March, our win in the Cheriton by-election was down to the hard work, and support of members from across Shepway - it's as simple as that. Every member who helped deliver, spoke to voters, sat on a polling station or made a donation helped make our win possible. And Maureen, Tom, Peter, Darren, Miranda and Season - you were awesome.

The Folkestone Lib Dem Group had one member this time last year, but has now grown to four - Hugh Robertson Ritchie has been joined by Emily Sanger, Peter Gane and myself over the last 10 months - that's quite some growth!

Much of the campaign was spent talking about issues that effect people day to day - issues in their street. But also, on doorstep after doorstep, people said that the Conservative and People First Shepway Council are not listening. From the recycling fiasco, to increased car parking charges, to dirty streets - there is increasing anger at the decisions being made. Where Shepway Council is failing Folkestone, Folkestone Town Council needs to stand up to Shepway.

As Lib Dems, we've got to make sure we listen to those voices and offer a clear alternative, learn from past mistakes, make clear promises, and act on them. That's our challenge in the Council chambers now, and for the elections of 2007, and one we will meet.

During the by-election, Labour put out a leaflet across bits of Cheriton decrying the Town Council as an "expensive talking shop" and refusing to stand a candidate. It's so sad - not only are they wrong, they miss the point of how to have their say in a democracy.

Liberal Democrats want to see local town and parish councils having MORE say over what happens. NOT more government, but definitely more LOCAL government. Transferring powers from Kent and Shepway Councils, from quangos and unelected bodies. Folkestone Council should have real say over the services in Folkestone and how it is run - and to influence that, you need elected representatives at all levels. And to maximise the chance of that change happening, we will stand to any body that can help make the change.

As an example, the Lib Dems have backed Proportional Representation as a fairer electoral system for years - but have not refused to stand for bodies that are not elected by it. As a result, slowly we are winning our case - European Elections are now held under a form of PR, as are GLA, Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament elections, and from next year all local elections in Scotland move to PR too. There is much more to do, but we didn't make those gains by putting out leaflets refusing to stand under an unfair system - we got in there, fought, argued our case and are winning the arguments.

So the message to Labour: grow up, and get involved.

The message to the Conservatives: watch out.

And the message to Lib Dems: thanks. We've got lots to do, but this is a good place to start.