Sedgemore switches to back Liberal Democrats

6.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Apr 2005

Chris Coleman has welcomed Brian Sedgemore's decision to join the Liberal Democrats and highlighted the Party's polices designed to make Britain fairer. Mr Sedgemore was Labour MP for Luton West from 1974 - 1979, and for Hackney South & Shoreditch from 1983 - 2005.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy, said:

"Over the course of the last Parliament Brian Sedgemore has voted with the Liberal Democrats on many of the big issues of the day - not just on Iraq, but also on foundation hospitals, top-up fees and anti-terrorism laws.

"It is therefore not surprising that he finds himself at this election in greater sympathy with Liberal Democrat policies rather than those of Tony Blair's Labour Party.

"Brian Sedgemore's message for other people who are considering voting Labour but who are unhappy with the Party's policies on Iraq, tuition fees and civil liberties is clear. At this election, the only Party which has taken principled stands on these issues is the Liberal Democrats. They should follow their beliefs and vote Liberal Democrat - certain in the knowledge that however they vote, Michael Howard's Conservatives cannot win this election."

Brian Sedgemore said:

"The idea and practice of Britain as a liberal country has always been under threat but it has taken a Labour Prime Minister to secure its demise. For Tony Blair, his scorn for liberal Britain is surprising for one who had an expensive liberal education and who entered politics as an aspirant liberal lawyer, an ardent member of CND and a standard bearer for the left.

"What about the principles, ideas, ideals and values which will determine the result of the election in Britain? If being British does not entail a longing for liberty, then having such an identity is worthless. If a political party does not yearn for freedom based on the rule of law, habeas corpus and due process, then there is no point in either being a member or in voting for it.

"It is against this background that I have finally decided I could no longer support the Labour government and will join the Liberal Democrats to work for a nobler vision of Britain.

"All the deeply illiberal measures passed by the government were ferociously and heroically opposed by a number of backbench MPs, myself included, as well as by the Liberal Democrats collectively. I urge everyone from the centre and left in British politics to give Blair a bloody nose at the election and to vote for the Liberal Democrats in recognition of the fact that the tawdry New Labour project is dead.

"The Tories have no chance of winning the election so the bogeyman Howard argument is very much an aunt sally, easily put up and even more easily knocked down."