Lib Dems Target Local Conservatives As Part Of National 'Million Letter' Campaign

12.00.00am GMT Mon 9th Dec 2002

Thousands of people in Herefordshire who have traditionally voted Conservative are to receive letters from Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy asking them to consider switching to his party as the effective opposition in Britain today.

Across Britain, Mr Kennedy is writing to one million Conservative supporters living in over 100 key constituencies.

The letter will contrast the current divisions within the Tory party, recently highlighted by former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine's call for Ian Duncan Smith to be removed as party leader, with the united and effective opposition provided by the Liberal Democrats. In the letter Charles Kennedy will say:

"Almost everyone knows that the Conservatives have failed to be an effective opposition. They spend more time fighting each other. Their recent antics have been described as being the worst in the history of the Conservative Party."

"As support for the Conservatives is falling, more people are turning to the Liberal Democrats. Even many former Conservative MPs, MEPs and Councillors have switched to the Liberal Democrats. They say that the Liberal Democrats offer a fresh and honest approach to Britain's problems."

Paul Keetch, Member of Parliament for Hereford, commented:

"Iain Duncan Smith's Conservatives are directionless and divided. We all know that the Conservative Party is unfit for government, but its performance at the moment shows that it is unfit for opposition too."

"When the Government announced their plans for the year ahead in the Queen's Speech, the only party to propose an alternative programme were the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives had nothing to contribute."

"The Liberal Democrats are a united party, with a coherent message, and we will oppose this Government. To those thousands of decent people who have previously voted Tory, but who are dismayed by the present performance of that Party, we say: come and join us."