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COMMENT
Wednesday January 10 | 2024
Mike Martin Liberal Democrats
Mike Martin is the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for the Tunbridge Wells Constituency
Only the Lib Dems can deliver real change THIS year is an important one for politics. As I’m sure everyone already knows, the general election is expected to take place later this year. And the most common thing that voters tell us in Tunbridge Wells is that they want a change in that election. They are fed up with Conservative incompetence, Conservative infighting, and having politicians who are seemingly incapable of being honest and straightforward. They want change.
‘In Tunbridge Wells, change means voting for a Liberal Democrat MP. We are the only party that can beat the Conservatives here’ Tunbridge Wells has been a Conservative seat for a long time. Indeed it is almost synonymous with small ‘C’ conservatism. But no more: Tunbridge Wells is different now. Many young families have moved here over recent years, changing the demography of the constituency. Indeed, I am part of that influx, though my wife has deep roots in Tunbridge Wells, having grown up here. And as the constituency has become
more liberal, the Conservative Party has gone in the opposite direction and seems to be trapped by the right-wing ideologues in their ranks (Liz Truss, anyone?). In Tunbridge Wells, change means voting for a Liberal Democrat MP. We are the only party that can beat the Conservatives here. Indeed, we are the only party that is intent on winning here. Labour simply cannot win, and haven’t even bothered to select a candidate yet. And we are offering voters a fresh start. The Liberal
Democrats stand for a fair deal for everyone – an innovative economy that promotes opportunity for all, proper access to good health and care services and more houses being built with a particular focus on affordable housing. And I am focused on tackling local issues, from the failure of our local water companies to fixing the town centre. Yet, whenever the general election falls, in May we also have the biggest local elections in Tunbridge Wells for decades. The number of
local Borough Councillors is being reduced from 48 to 39 and all 39 Councillors must be elected afresh to represent new wards following a set of boundary reforms. This means the vast majority of residents will get three votes in the local elections in May – with which to choose three new Councillors to represent their local area. For the last two years, the Lib Dems have run the Council in partnership with other parties. There have been some notable successes. Work will be starting soon on the old cinema site, and the appalling deficit left by the previous Conservative administration has been diligently reduced. And thanks to this prudent financial management, the Council was able to buy back the lease for Royal Victoria Place shopping centre, meaning that we now control our own destiny, and are able to start rejuvenating and shaping our town the way we would like. But working in partnership with other parties is sometimes difficult, and always slower. And so very soon we will be unveiling an exciting set of ideas for how we want to develop the Borough of Tunbridge Wells, and asking residents to vote for a Lib Dem majority administration – much like we are asking you to elect a Liberal Democrat MP. The voters of Tunbridge Wells want change. My team and I want to deliver it for you.
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