BACK PAGE EXTRA… TORIES OUT OF THE RACE IN SOUTH BY-ELECTION Iraq: we FREE South Leicester want the truth! Page 2 EWS Back page: Leicester students could miss out on vote N ● Failed Labour Leicester Liberal Democrat Parmjit Singh Gill is fighting to man chosen keep our local post offices open A man rejected by his own — collecting signatures for the Lib constituents at last year’s local Dems Save our Post Offices petition. elections is the controversial choice of Labour as Tony Blair’s man in the South Knighton is one of the latest Leicester South by-election. local post offices under threat as a Many people are furious at the result of government policies. choice of Sir — the person most noted for awarding himself fat cat pay rises when he was the top Labour man on Leicester Council and for the massive Council Tax rises he inflicted on local residents. Residents are asking how Labour can expect them to back a man who closed six local schools, closed homes for Leicester’s elderly and shut down St Margaret’s Baths. Many are amazed that they are being asked to vote for a man who was kicked off the Council by Spinney Hills residents last year by a margin of over 1000 votes in favour of the Lib Dems. He even failed in his bid to become Leicester’s Euro-MP, even though he was favourite to get the job. When asked by a high-ranking committee of Parliament whether he had ever been interested in becoming the MP for Leicester South he said “I rather looked on it badly and it was quickly squashed.” Many people are asking how can he be taken seriously after Not signed the petition against that comment. Labour party chiefs are worried post office closures yet? that they will lose the Leicester Sign on page 4 or online at South seat to the popular local www.leicester-libdems.org.uk choice Councillor Parmjit Gill. NEWS FACT: WHEN MICHAEL HOWARD WAS IN THE GOVERNMENT, THE TREASURY TOOK 90% OF POST OFFICE PROFITS. NONE OF THIS MONEY WAS INVESTED TO PROTECT SERVICES.

they claim to be campaigning to keep them open, OUTRAGEbut it was the Tory government that closed 4,000 …at Labour and the Tories as massive local post ofÞ ces between 1979 and 1997.” Leicester post office closures announced The Lib Dem “Save our Post OfÞ ces” petition esidents are outraged at the news Boundary Road and East Park Road. Both has been gathering signatures across the area. that a further eighteen post offices in Clarendon Park and South Knighton still have the Parmjit Singh Gill said: “We must make our RLeicestershire are set to close — with the axe hanging over them. voice heard by the Royal Mail and the Labour axe hanging over a further six. The latest savage Local campaigner Parmjit Singh Gill said: “Local Government if we are to stand any chance of cuts under the Labour Government’s closure residents are angry at the Labour Government stopping yet more post ofÞ ce closures in our area 4,000 POST OFFICES programme will hit local communities hard. for these closures, it is Labour’s policies that are — including Clarendon Park and South Knighton. WERE CLOSED BY THE Three post ofÞ ces are set to close in South causing them. “Every local resident should sign the petition Leicester by the end of August: West Knighton, “The Conservatives are no better, In their leaß ets TODAY.” See page 4 TORY GOVERNMENT Page 2 South Leicester NEWS IRAQ - YOU DEMAND THE TRUTH £3 billion The price of war!

Figures from HM Treasury revealed to the Liberal Democrats show that Chancellor Gordon Brown set aside £3 billion in his war chest for operations in Iraq.

Tony Blair and George W Bush. Will they tell us What the NHS the real reason why we went to could have got for war with Iraq? Photo: NATO undreds of local residents are have been found. People are now Iraq. The Lib Dems will continue to Hdemanding a full independent demanding answers and so far Tony Þ ght to get answers.” £3 billion inquiry into the facts behind the Blair is refusing to give them. If you support our campaign to get war in Iraq. Local Lib Dem campaigner Parmjit the truth, why not sign and return ● Trained 8,390 nurses to Despite the claims made by the UK Gill said, “Local people deserve the our petition below. Every extra and US governments before the war, truth about why Labour, backed by signature will help us get closer to fill existing vacancies no weapons of mass destruction the Conservatives, took us to war in the truth. AND SIGN ● Built 18 new hospitals - local people PETITION OUR AND ● Provided 50 new cancer IRAQ deserve the truth scanners To: Prime Minister, AND We, the undersigned, call for a full public inquiry to be set up into the accuracy of the information ● Trained 300 new doctors provided by the intelligence services over weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and the presentation of the information to Parliament and the public. Name Address Email

The Liberal Democrats would like to use the information above to contact you from time to time to keep you informed of campaigns we may think of interest to you. Please write to us if you do not wish to be contacted in this way. Help the Lib Dems win in Leicester The local Liberal Democrats campaign all-year-round. If you would like to help your local Lib Dem team, complete and return this form: I will vote Lib Dem in the Leicester South by-election Your name I would like to vote by post A donation of £5 or more entitles you to I can display an election poster membership of Your address the Lib Dems. I can deliver leafl ets in my area Please tick here if you don’t want I enclose a donation to the campaign to be enrolled ❑ ● Charles Kennedy’s Liberal Democrats are made payable to “Liberal Democrats” for £______calling for more nurses, more doctors and Please return this form to: Parmjit Singh Gill, Liberal Democrats, FREEPOST, NAT4561, Leicester, LE2 7ZD faster NHS treatment in our hospitals. South Leicester NEWS Page 3 Down your way South Leicester Local South News interview ● The Lib Dems In the corridors hold 14 of the 18 of Parliament Leicester News council seats in everyone is saying Leicester South. that Parmjit Singh Gill is the Action for Spinney Hills LIB DEM favourite to overtake Labour and win the ● TRAFFIC Spinney Hills Lib Leicester South Dem councillors Mussa Saleh, Hashim ACTION by-election. Panchbaya and Mustafa Lib Dem councillors Karim have been taking Parmjit Singh Gill, Rob Westminster action to deal with Renold and Hussein Sule- concerns expressed man are asking the Coun- reporter by local residents cil for a review of the traf- Sarah Morris about traffic and Þ c management system in spoke to the highways issues in the the Evington Road area. area. This includes a popular local review of the one-way councillor. system and traffic calming schemes which How long have you lived here in Leicester? deteriorated under the I was born here, and have lived here all of my life. previous Labour council and are damaging cars. Why do you want to be the MP for Leicester South? Leicester South deserves a good local MP who will stick up for our area — just like Jim Marshall did. I think I can do that job. Everyone tells me they don’t want a Labour KKnightonnighton PParkark bbeneeneÞ tsts ffromrom bankbencher who does everything that Tony Blair and the Labour whips tell them to do.

LLibib DemDem councilcouncil plansplans What about the Conservatives? Everybody knows the Conservatives can’t win here. Th ey came a distant third in the most recent local elections Knighton Park is — when the Lib Dems beat Labour here in Leicester. to beneÞ t from the new Lib Dem City Many people say that the top issue in the by-election Council’s priority to is the war in Iraq, do you think that is true? look after Leicester. I think there are several important issues for local Worn out paths are to be resurfaced, people. Iraq is certainly one of them, people feel they new planting is to re- have been lied to by Tony Blair and have lost all trust in place worn out beds, him; whereas Charles Kennedy has been honest and has broken benches are opposed Tony Blair and George W. Bush consistently. to be replaced and But other issues are also important: top up fees, which play equipment is to are unfair — they will make education based on ability be replaced and im- to pay rather than ability to learn, the NHS, Crime, and proved. Post Offi ce closures.

EEYRESYRES MONSELLMONSELL CROSSINGCROSSING Haven’t Labour condemned local Post Offi ce closures? Eyres Monsell Lib NNoo RRespectespect Leicester West’s Labour MP Patricia Hewitt is the Dem councillors Minister responsible for Post Offi ce closures. Labour can’t Mark Farmer and have their cake and eat it — the bottom line is Labour’s Dean Ramsdale have successfully policies are closing our Post Offi ces. Th ese closures hit the asked for a elderly in our community particularly hard. pedestrian crossing What experience of yours do you think is the most outside the Liberal Democrat city centre councillor Debbie important in making you a good local MP? Eyres Monsell Almey has reported illegal ß yposting in the area. As a local councillor here I have the experience of working Community Cllr Almey said: “We need to take tough action with local people to get things done — all year round. I Centre. against the vandals who deface our streets and want to continue that work with all of the communities in show no respect for our local community.” Leicester South. South Leicester NEWS Page 4 TToriorieess outout ofof by-electionby-election ollowing a disastrous set of European election results, the Conservatives have already been Fwritten off in the Leicester South by-election by the press. The Conservatives had their worst result since 1832 rraceace — but Labour weren’t much better, suffering their worst share of the vote since the First World War. The real gainers among the major parties were the Liberal Democrats — making major gains in both the European and the local elections across the country. Following massive local council election gains in Leicester last year, the Leicester South by-election is a clear two horse race between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, everybody knows that nobody else can win. Single issue party UKIP are unable to repeat their performance in the European elections and to make gains in traditional Þ rst past the post Westminster elections — and minor parties such as the Greens and Respect, who scored less than 2% in the European elections, stand no chance in Leicester. Local Liberal Democrat candidate Parmjit Singh Gill said: “The election will be a clear choice between supporting Tony Blair and his policies or choosing a local MP who will work hard for our area.” September at Brent East. Anal- ysis by WWhatPA haNewst thet heshows they would have comfortably taken the seatLLeices one icthee sbasisttere rof MercuM votese rcastcu rryiny the constituency [last year].. Liberal Dem- ocrats averagedsay s…10,838 (42.2%), Labour 6,997 (27.2%), Tories 5,203 (20.3%).. Liberal Democrats won 14 of theSupport city council for seats Labour in the and constitu- ency,Tories compared falls withto recordtwo each low for Labour and Tory. Leicester South could give Liberal Democrats the chance to follow up theirLabour, triumph with 22 perlast cent, sufferedSeptember its worst at share Brent of the vote since the First World War and the Tory East.party, Analysis on 27 per cent,by itsPA lowest News since 1832.shows they would have comfortably taken the seat on the basis of votes cast in the constituencyLABOUR: [last year]..WE GOTLiberal Dem- ● A photographer from The Times follows Lib Dem candidate ocrats averaged 10,838 (42.2%), Parmjit Gill on the campaign trail. The press are predicting that Labour A6,997 GOOD (27.2%), KICKING Tories 5,203 it will be a close fight between the Lib Dems and Labour in the (20.3%).. Liberal Democrats won 14 of the city council seats in the constituency, compared Leicester South by-election — where the Tories have no chance. One Labour activist moaned: “What a night with two- we’ve eaLiberal been let Democrats down by a rubbish the chance football to follow up their teamtriumph and a rubbish last electorate.” September at Brent East. Analysis by September at Brent SIGN THE PETITION AGAINST LOCAL STUDENTS NEED East. Analysis by PA News shows they would…[The haveLeicester South]comfortably Labour fortress takenlooks the vulnerable from the Liberal Democrats… PO CLOSURES TODAY POSTAL VOTES TO SAY seat afteron wipingthe outbasis all but oftwo ofvotes Labour’s cast in the constituencycouncil seats in[last Leicester year].. South last year.Liberal Dem- ocrats averaged 10,838 (42.2%), SAVE OUR POST OFFICES Labour 6,997 (27.2%), Tories 5,203 “NO” TO TOP UP FEES The Lib Dems were up 70 seats We, the undersigned, call upon Royal Mail and the (20.3%).. Liberal Democrats won 14 of Government to stop the wave of closures of post any students at the city council offices. Post offices provide an essential service to our Tory MEP Chris Heaton-Harris said: community. Leicester’s univer- seats in the Msities look set to con-“It’s a disappointing result” stit- Name/s ...... miss out on voting against Labour’s top up fees as a Email ...... result of the timing of the We always give more than we take! Leicester South by-election. Not only is every tree used in the The Liberal Democrats, Address ...... manufacture of UK newspapers who are opposed to Labour’s replaced by 2-3 more, the life of top up fees plans, have set up a link from their website at the fibres is extended by increasing Phone ...... www.leicester-libdems.org.uk to allow people to register on recycling rates. Return to: Parmjit Singh Gill, Liberal Democrats, line for a postal vote. However, as the by-election is likely to be called very quickly the Lib Dems have pointed out that stu- Published and promoted by the Liberal Democrats, 92 London Road, Leicester. FREEPOST NAT4561, Leicester, LE2 7ZD Printed by The Northcliffe Press, Sales and Administration Office, East Point, Cardinal Square, dents shouldn’t delay in registering for their postal vote. 10 Nottingham Road, Derby DE1 3QT. 0116 227 3181.