Happy New Year from Andrew Simpson, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North

1.00.00am GMT Mon 1st Jan 2007

Andrew Simpson (photography: Andrew Simpson)

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2007.

2006 has been a great year for me as I was re-selected as the Liberal Democrat Candidate for Northampton North Constituency in May. Since then my colleagues and I have been campaigning hard to change Northampton for the better.

The year started with the Liberal Democrats winning a by-election in Spencer, Dallington and Kings Heath. We took Labour's safest seat in the town with a 16% swing. Roger Conroy was elected as the 17th Lib Dem Councillor on Northampton Borough Council and a great boost for our chances in 2007 when we aim to take control of the Council for the first time.

Over the last year my Lib Dem colleagues and I have been at the forefront of campaigns locally:

• Fighting Labour's unsuccessful plans to scrap Northamptonshire police and merge them with an East Midlands force.

• Opposing the savage cuts by the Conservative Controlled County Council to youth services and care for the elderly and people with disabilities.

• Calling for a switch to Green Taxes to really make a difference to our local environment.

• Campaigning against the development of Dallington Heath.

In 2007 two things are certain - in Northampton we will elect a new Borough Council in May - and nationally Tony Blair will finally step down as Prime Minister.

Locally the Lib Dems are well placed to take control of Northampton Borough Council for the very first time - with 17 seats to the Conservatives 20 - we only need to make a few gains from Labour (who have just 10 seats) and the Conservatives to end decades of misrule by the old parties.

We need you support to do this; please tell us what changes you would like to see by completing our online manifesto consultation - see below.

With Tony Blair going many may breathe a sigh of relief but just remember that Gordon Brown has been the man in charge of the purse strings for the last 10 years; he's the one who supported the war in Iraq, who has caused cuts locally in our NHS and who has presided over a greater level of economic inequality in 2007 than when Labour came to power in 1997.

As your prospective MP I will be championing issues that are affecting people in Northampton. Putting Northampton First.

For example I am currently running a campaign against the cuts to local NHS services. Please add your support by signing the online petition - see below.

Early in 2007 the Liberal Democrats will be running a 'We Can Cut Crime' campaign. We will set out our ideas about how to make Britain safer for everyone.

We are fortunate in having Nick Clegg MP, Lib Dem Shadow Home Secretary, visiting Northampton on 11th January to help launch our campaign. See below for details of the Nick Clegg visit

This campaign is particularly important for Northampton where our Police force is struggling under the burden of Government targets and initiatives. Worse still next year the County will have to lose the equivalent of 42 full time Police officers to meet budget shortfalls.

I am determined that we tackle this head on - we deserve a well resourced Police force and above all policies that tackle crime not just get headlines in tabloid newspapers.

I will be telling you more about our campaign in the next few weeks.

Finally I hope you will consider helping my Lib Dem colleagues and I in 2007. We rely on members and supporters to fund our campaigns and help deliver our message across the town.

Please register below for regular news of our campaigns.

I hope you will join me in changing Northampton for the better.

With best wishes

Andrew Simpson

Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North Constituency

PS. You can also visit our websites at www.andrew-simpson.org.uk and www.northamptonlibdems.org.uk

Happy New Year from Andrew Simpson, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North

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