Lib Dems Kick off Council Campaign

Shropshire Liberal Democrats started their campaign for the 2021 Shropshire Council Elections with an event held at the Shakespeare Inn, Bridgnorth. The event was combined with a visit from Christine Jardine MP, the Liberal Democrats’ Home Affairs Spokesperson (and potential candidate for leader of the party).
“The event was set up to show members and supporters how we will focus on the underperforming Conservative Council and let them know how we will campaign to place hard-working local Liberal Democrat councillors in charge” said Andrew Sherrington, campaign manager. “The people of the Bridgnorth area deserve a lot better from Shirehall. They deserve a council which works for them, which invests in Bridgnorth and the surrounding area. They deserve a council which spends our hard-earned money wisely, instead of spending £50m buying shopping centres which depreciate in value and give no return. They deserve a council which fulfils its statutory duties – like maintaining our roads properly – with a Highways contract which is fit for purpose. We all deserve a council which can do its job, instead of one which hires a consultant for £1000 a day to tell them what should be plain common sense. We will show from past performance (when a Lib-Lab alliance controlled the then county council), and from comparable LibDem councils, how a LibDem Shirehall would put local people first.”
Christine took time from her very busy schedule to attend the event. Due to travel issues, she could not make the meetings planned for the afternoon, but still arrived in time for the excellent buffet supper provided by the Shakespeare. “When I was putting this visit in the diary, I thought I might have to abandon the train and come by boat” she remarked. “The flooding up and down the Severn has been devastating. I have every sympathy for those poor people who have had their lives turned upside down by this.”
One local member confirmed he had been flooded, with damage and losses approaching £100,000 including writing off his car and motorcycle. The flood filled the basement of his property, destroying family mementos as well as causing substantial damage. “Amidst all of this it’s important to keep reminding people we haven’t seen the Prime Minister in the region at all. We should have had a much stronger government response” said Christine.