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Nick Clegg
Chris Huhne

 

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Nick Clegg

Chris Huhne

 

 

Leadership Contest

Campaign Message from Nick Clegg 

www.nickclegg.com    Email       Tel: 020 7340 1443

Dear fellow Liberal Democrat,

When I was elected to the European Parliament in 1999, I was the first liberal parliamentarian in the East Midlands in more than seventy years.

I’ve been reaching out to new voters for the Liberal Democrats my whole political life. I believe we must reach beyond narrow party politics, to people who haven’t voted for us before, and join them to our cause.

That’s why I have put myself forward for the leadership of our great party, and hope you will support me.

There are millions of people in this country who share our liberal values, but don’t yet give us their votes.

These are the people we must be talking to. I want us to take our message to every community, every home, every family. We must especially reach out to those who do not take part in politics today, in all age groups and all the communities of modern Britain.

That’s why I’m proud to have won the support of so many different campaigners, activists and elected representatives from around the country. You can read the growing list of supporters at www.nickclegg.com, and I hope that many of you will want to add your own name and endorsement.

On our core liberal issues, I believe we must be bold. We must take our ideas, and turn them into action. This week I took the first step: we have always opposed identity cards but I became the first national politician to pledge to refuse to register, and risk going to court for my principles.

We have always called for scrutiny of the government’s plans to house Bush’s “son of star wars” missile system on British soil. Instead we should say a categorical “no” to this weapons system that will not make the world safer but more dangerous.

We have always argued for social justice and education for all. Let us take that further, and say the poorest children should be allocated far more money in the school system - so they can break out of the cycle of deprivation.  It is time to put education back at the heart of Liberal Democrat policy.

And on the environment, we must go beyond our policy leadership and win the political debate too. We must inspire people, not lecture them, by striking a New Deal between government, business and citizens where each accepts their responsibility to tackle the urgent problem of climate change.

Some commentators argue that the best the Liberal Democrats can hope for is third place and a toe-hold in government if we’re lucky. They are wrong.

Third place is not good enough for me, for the party, or for Britain. In a time of real political change and shifting public opinion we must aim higher. We will need ambition, verve and self confidence. That is what I believe I can bring to the leadership of the Liberal Democrats.

Many of you reading this will already know me.  Over the next few weeks, I will be travelling the country to meet many more of you.  In doing so, I hope to persuade you that I have the right qualities to lead, to unite and to grow our great party at this time.  A strong, united and growing Liberal Democrat party is what the other parties most fear.

For more information about me, all the latest news on my campaign, and ideas about how to get involved, please visit www.nickclegg.com/campaign. You can also call my campaign office on 020 7340 1443.

Yours faithfully,

Nick Clegg
MP for Sheffield Hallam

Liberal Democrat Leadership Candidate

PS It really helps the campaign if you can register your support at www.nickclegg.com/support  and by joining our Facebook group at http://tinyurl.com/yt7pet
 

The above letter is published and promoted by and on behalf of Liberal Democrats, 4 Cowley Street, London, SW1P 3NB, (020) 7222 7999.


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