Kennedy rallies MPs and PPCs for General Election battle

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 10th Sep 2004

Over 100 Liberal Democrat MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) including many from Hampshire will be attending a special summit this weekend to discuss the Party's campaigning strategy ahead of the General Election.

Party election strategists will be analysing recent political developments, polling results and discussing the Party's pre-manifesto document Freedom, Fairness, Trust ahead of its formal launch next Tuesday. Party bosses will discuss how to maximise benefit from the continuing slide in popularity for the Conservatives and Michael Howard, and the massive loss of support for Labour in its traditional heartlands of the inner cities.

Speaking ahead of the summit this weekend, Charles Kennedy said:

"The Liberal Democrats enter this new political year, gaining in strength, up in the polls and with a popular and affordable programme for Britain.

"In Brent East, in Leicester South and now in Hartlepool, people are turning to the Liberal Democrats for answers. Over Iraq, on Tuition fees, on the Council Tax, on Pensions, on our public services, it is the Liberal Democrat approach that strikes a chord with people.

"In this new era of three party politics, everything we say and everything we do will be scrutinised by the voters, by the media and our opponents as never before.

"It is our task from now until the General Election to set out to people in clear and unambiguous terms the benefits of voting Liberal Democrat.

"I am determined between now and the general election that we take our message of freedom, fairness and trust to the people of Britain."