Duncan Hames brings Floella Benjamin to visit Chippenham’s RISE Children’s Centre

Lib Dem supporter, Floella Benjamin visited the RISE Children Centre in Chippenham with Liberal Democrat candidate for Chippenham Duncan Hames.

Floella, a familiar face from many people’s childhood as presenter of Play School, and Chancellor of Exeter University, was acting on behalf of the Liberal Democrats as an ambassador for the party on early years education.

She is passionate about child development, and her visit, alongside Duncan Hames who is a school governor in Melksham, underpins the Lib Dems’ commitment to giving all children a fair start in life.

Duncan Hames said: “I am delighted that Floella found time to visit Chippenham during her busy tour of the South West. She is a truly inspiring person with a deep concern for children and their development. I think her visit will have left a lasting memory with some of the families, volunteers and staff we met. It was a privilege for me to listen to her wise words, and see her passion for the welfare of children”.

The Liberal Democrats have committed to continue the funding in Government for Sure Start Children’s Centres; aiming to deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together early years education, childcare, health and family support.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg visited Chippenham to lend support to Duncan Hames’ bid to become Wiltshire’s first Lib Dem MP.

Mr Clegg, visiting students at Wiltshire College, Lackham, when asked about his decision to campaign in the Chippenham Constituency, said: “I really want to support Duncan in his campaign to become the MP for Chippenham,” he said. “We are colleagues and friends, he knows this area and he would be a great local champion.”

Duncan Hames later added: “Nick’s visit showed how serious our campaign is in the Chippenham Constituency. He really is the man of the moment and I am delighted that he found the time in his busy schedule to come and meet my constituents here in Wiltshire”.

The polls following the first ever Party Leaders General Election debate on ITV are showing that Nick Clegg has won a convincing victory over David Cameron and Gordon Brown.

The debate was the first ever Leaders debate during a UK General Election campaign, and the pollsters are giving it as a big victory for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats.

The ITV / COMRES poll held by ITV and announced shortly after the debate gave Nick Clegg as the winner by a huge margin:

?Nick Clegg 43%

?David Cameron 26%

?Gordon Brown 20%

YouGov, Channel 4, Guardian, Daily Mail, The Times and Angus Reid polls following the debate also scored Nick Clegg as the clear winner of the first Leaders debate. Angus Reid said that 42% of voters were more likely to vote for the Liberal Democrats as a result of the debate.

The Daily Telegraph’s headline following the debate said “Clegg’s star rises in great TV showdown”.

The Times comment “Enter the Outsider: Nick Clegg seizes his moment in historic TV debate”.

Even Conservative commentator and blogger Iain Dale said “I think Nick Clegg won the day”.

In summing up the debate, Nick Clegg said Labour and the Tories have made the “same old mistakes over and over again. Despite all the problems and challenges we have, we can be hopeful about the future if we chose something different.”

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On Tuesday 6th of April, shortly after the date of the election was announced, Duncan was joined by supporters, members of the press and former Lib Dem leader, Paddy Ashdown at a packed General Election launch rally in Melksham.

Duncan used the rally as an opportunity to publically sign the Ministry of Justice Declaration of Interests – in which he states that he will give up his business and all other paid work if he is elected as our next MP – a pledge the Conservative candidate has so far failed to match.

Duncan said: “I was delighted that Paddy was able to join us in Melksham to witness my signing of the declaration.

“This election is our chance to clean up politics in Wiltshire after the recent expenses scandal, but to do that, candidates must first be open and honest with the voters. This declaration is my promise to local people. You can hold me to it.

“I am calling on my fellow candidates in Chippenham to follow me in making this declaration – to be honest with local people. We deserve nothing less.”

The full text of the declaration is published here on Duncan’s website for everyone to see:

http://www.duncanhames.org.uk/chippenham/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/doi.pdf.

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary Norman Baker has today launched a plan that would see Britain undertake the biggest expansion of the railways since the Victorian age. The plan will be paid for by cutting down the major roads budget and it includes a commitment to re-open local stations including Corsham, here in Wiltshire.

Commenting, Norman Baker said:

“High speed rail is hugely important, but it is only part of the 21st century rail network Britain needs. Our plans will reopen thousands of miles of track across the country and make our railway great again.”

“Labour has allowed the railways to wither on the vine and punished passengers with huge fare hikes while more polluting forms of transport have got cheaper. All the while, the Tories have been sharpening the axe they will take to the transport budget.”

Lib Dem prospective MP for Corsham, Duncan Hames commented:

“I raised the case for re-opening Corsham station with the Lib Dem Transport team some time ago, and I am delighted that it has made it into the final funded plan.”

“For too long, politicians have offered no more than warm words when it comes to the re-opening of Corsham station.”

“With this plan, the Liberal Democrats have gone much further than that. We now have a fully-funded plan to re-open the station. If Labour and the Conservatives truly want to support the campaign for Corsham station they need to be prepared to put the money up. Warm words alone are not enough.”