Lib Dem candidate for Warminster Trevor Carbin comments on the new government

Trevor Carbin, Liberal Democrat candidate for South West Wilts, gained 14,954 votes in the General Election.  This was 30.7% of the vote share, coming second to Dr Andrew Murrison, the elected Conservative candidate. 

Warminsterpeople invited him to comment on the new coalition government and he has sent the following. 

"The coalition agreement between the Liberal Democrats and the

Conservatives is good news for the country.  We based our election

campaign on the principles of fair taxation with an increase in the

income tax allowance, a pupil premium to improve our education system

and break the cycle of deprivation which blights so many young lives,

an economic recovery based on job creation and environmental awareness,

and reform of our democratic system.

All these objectives have been

identified in the agreement between the parties, and I have every

confidence they will be achieved during this five year Parliament.

The fifteen thousand people who voted Liberal Democrat in South

West Wiltshire can be proud that their votes have contributed to this

outcome.

Whilst many of us in Wiltshire will have felt an instinctive

aversion to an alliance with the Conservatives, it was inevitable given

the outcome of the election.  It was also precisely what Nick Clegg

said he would do if there was a balanced parliament with one party

having a clear lead in terms of votes and seats.

It won't be an easy job, but this is a government with the

strength to lead the recovery, to build a strong economy, and to avoid

repeating the mistakes which led us into the recession.

Be assured however whilst we have an alliance in Westminster it's

business as usual in Warminster.

Wiltshire Council Liberal Democrats

will continue to offer constructive opposition, giving credit where it

is due. But we will also continue to expose Conservative incompetence

whenever it rears its head.

We will fight plans to cut back services in

Wiltshire. We will not allow the Conservatives to close swimming pools,

jack up car parking fees, cut Special Educational Needs provision, cut

youth services, cut the standards of waste collection and recycling,

and fail to maintain our roads to the standard expected in other

counties - all whilst increasing council tax rates - without fighting

their plans and attempting to help the people who are suffering because

of them."