CLOSEST EVER ELECTION FIGHT - RENDEL OFF TO A FLYING START

12.09.18pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 5th Apr 2005

The election has been called - and David Rendel's campaign is off to a flying start. The experts agree - Newbury will be one of the closest fought and most closely watched election contests in the country.

Hundreds of residents from all parts of the constituency have volunteered to display posters, and leaflets are being delivered across West Berkshire in a bid to re-elect a popular local campaigner with a 20-year record of service to local people.

David Rendel has been West Berkshire's MP for 12 years. During that period he has successfully campaigned for the by-pass, a new local hospital, and a new cinema. He has helped tens of thousands of local residents with their problems and queries and earned the respect of people of all political persuasions and none.

David Rendel said:

"People face important choices in this election. I am campaigning to abolish the Council Tax, scrap all university tuition fees, invest in more police officers for West Berkshire, and introduce free personal care for the elderly so that they do not need to sell their homes to pay for their care.

"In contrast, Michael Howard's Conservatives intend to keep the Council Tax, to load the cost of university tuition onto the students, and to continue to charge the elderly for long term care.

"The choice is between electing a Liberal Democrat MP who will fight for better-funded and fairer public services or one of Michael Howard's Conservatives. No other outcome is possible, and it's close enough for every vote to count."

ENDS