Changing the Leader doesn't change the product says Lib Dem

10.49.51pm GMT Tue 6th Dec 2005

Tories still a long way to go says Andrew Simpson

Commenting on David Cameron's election as the new Leader of the Conservative party Andrew Simpson, who was Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North constituency in May's General Election, said "Changing the figurehead doesn't change the product on offer - it is the policies and the principles that a party stands for that in the end are what is important - today's Conservative party has got to go a long way to relate to ordinary people. You wonder how David Cameron can do that".

At the General Election the Conservatives gained less than 1% of the national vote on May 5th. To win the next election, the Conservatives would need to secure a phenomenal swing. There is no evidence of that happening (see latest opinion polls in notes below). In Northampton North constituency they gained just 0.4% of the vote whilst the Lib Dems gained the most (6.8%) at the expense of Labour. Even though the Tories gained Northampton South at the election - the Lib Dems still increased their vote by a greater share.

"The Conservatives need to demonstrate they understand people's problems and issues" continued Andrew "With David Cameron a convinced anti-European, a keen supporter of tuition fees and likely to back the Government on nuclear power there is little sign that they do".

Notes:

Latest Opinion Polls

Despite the Conservatives receiving enormous media publicity during the last few months, the latest opinion polls from the major pollsters are:

Populus CON 30: LAB 40: LD 21

YouGov CON 32: LAB 40: LD 20

MORI CON 29: LAB 39: LD 25

ICM CON 31: LAB 40: LD 21