Tories reject third party jibe
The Conservative Party has dismissed out of hand Charles Kennedy’s claim that it is now them, not the Liberal Democrats, who are becoming the third party in the UK.
In his end of conference speech the Liberal Democrat leader said that the Conservatives are “scarcely a national UK political party any longer” when Wales and Scotland are taken into account, and only the Liberal Democrats provide any opposition to Labour in the urban wards.
Hitting back, the Conservatives’ co-chairman, Dr Liam Fox, branded Mr Kennedy’s comments “foolish bravado”, adding: “The Liberal Democrats’ attempts to portray themselves as political heavyweights are utter nonsense.
“The Conservatives are the dominant party in local government by a considerable margin.
“Charles Kennedy’s foolish bravado ignores the fact that under Paddy Ashdown in 1996, the Lib Dems controlled 55 councils – this figure has now dropped to 30. This pattern was further reinforced by the 2004 election results, where the Conservatives gained 15 further councils, the Liberal Democrats lost 2 and Labour lost 8. In the European elections they came a humiliating fourth behind UKIP.”
The next political test for all of the parties will come in the Hartlepool by-election, due to be held next week on 30th September.
