It’s Time for Change There has to be a General Election by the end of June 2010. The recent sleaze over MP’s expenses has turned many of us off politics, but democracy is precious. Even if it has been abused, we can’t afford to take it for granted. Soon we will get the chance to deliver our verdict on years of Government failures and broken promises. Judgement day looms for Labour. FACT: Your Labour MP voted to keep expenses secret, whilst Lib Dems have campaigned for years on reforming the voting system and for honesty in the way parliament is run. Labour has always resisted this, until the expenses scandal was exposed. Miraculously, both Labour and Tories are suddenly finding Lib Dem reforming ideas irresistible. Is this real, we wonder?

"I am Ian Lindley, your Libdem candidate for North Durham, I'm married with two grown-up children. I'm an ex-firefighter and currently responsible for Community Safety at LibDem Northumberland Council, where I have worked hard to create a system with Police and other partners which cracks down hard on anti-social behaviour and crime. Through tough actions we are building safer and happier communities. I am now looking forward to working with and for the people of North Durham."

Our canvassing is showing that we can beat Labour in North Durham, people have decided that they want an MP who has not lost touch with voters and who can hold Labour to account.

Judgement Day Looms for Labour

1.) Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour 2.) Fairer taxes for those on lower incomes 3.) Help young people into work or training through community schemes 4.) More/improved green areas in towns 5.) Develop the local economy and create jobs through attracting green businesses with new technologies. 6.) Better housing for low income families and seniors 7.) Develop better leisure opportunities for the area 8.) Other... Please tick your top three priorities from above and list your own on the back of this sheet and return to FREEPOST: - North Durham Lib Dems, FREEPOST, RSAB-EEUC-AJZJ, 118 Durham Road,Consett , DH8 5TN Lib Dems believe in: Clean, open government, no secret decisions or abuses of public money. Fair taxes which help narrow, not widen, the gap between rich and poor. Involving people in the decisions which affect them (e.g. developing our communities and local transport in a sustainable way). We want to look at better methods of financing the NHS and education (PFI and private investment hasn't really improved anything). Firm control of our borders (Britain is not an unlimited space with endless resources). Strengthening society to protect our traditional community values. No ‘Big Brother’ governance, which interferes with lawful citizens’ lives. No entanglement in bloody foreign wars without a just cause. We can achieve our foreign policy goals in much more subtle and effective ways. We should also cut costly and unnecessary defence programmes to properly equip our Armed Forces personnel. Fair voting system where every vote counts, too many people's votes are 'wasted' under the present system. Promoted, Published & Printed by Natalie English on behalf of Ian Lindley & North Durham Liberal Democrats all at 118

Durham Road,Consett, County Durham, DH8 5TN. Printed by ........

Liberal Democrats believe in working with local people to solve actual problems and make real improvements to our area. The residents survey will help start work for the new era after the next General Election in 2010.

Lib Dems can make a difference Where Lib Dem policies have been implemented, for example in Scotland, Newcastle and Northumberland- they are making a real difference to peoples lives by matching services to to residents needs and dealing strongly with bad behaviour. Voters are rightly disgusted at what they have seen from both Labour and Conservatives ( as a former member of the Labour Party. Ian knows exactly what we are dealing with in North Durham). People want a fresh start and new ideas, together we can deliver it. Your support will count and help Lib Dems reform British politics and improve our area.

We Need a Fresh Start in British Politics We don’t know for certain when Labour will call an election and let voters have their say. What we do know is that it has to be before the end of June next year. New Labour has lost its way and lost the plot since taking over from the Tories in 1997. Don’t forget that things were no better before Labour came to power. Under the Conservatives, with John Major as Prime Minister, the economy was in turmoil and we had to suffer sleaze, nothing has changed under Labour's watch.

Lib Dems are looking for vibrant and passionate people who want to make a real difference to the communities they live in. Join us in helping to put the 'people' back into British politics. We already have a young Lib Dem team who are ready to hit the ground running after the next General election. We are going to deal with local issues by using a mobile office, so we can get into the community helping combat problems such as anti-social behaviour and offer solutions.

Lib Dems are the fairest and most progressive party. We want fairer taxes to help low income families. We want to heal our society and help people into work, especially the young. A generation is being cut adrift by Labour. It needs to stop.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Durham-Liberal-Democrats/217798360018

"Labour is no longer a democratic party in any shape or form...since 1997 Labour has lost 4 million voters, driven away half of its Party members. New Labour is at the end of the road, no money, no organisation and no policies..." ("Compass", Labour Party organisation for grassroots Labour members, July 2009)