James Sandbach adopted as Lib Dems Candidate to contest Central Suffolk & N. Ipswich

CAMPAIGN 2019 - 32 DAYS TO POLLING DAY

Central Suffolk & North Ipswich Lib Dem members adopt James Sandbach as their candidate

The Liberal Democrats launched their general election campaign in the Central Suffolk & North Ipswich seat at Henley Community Centre yesterday and endorsed James Sandbach as their candidate. With Party membership at its highest level for decades, significant support coming from both ex Conservative and Labour voters and the latest You Gov poll showing that the Lib Dems are the party to beat the Conservatives in the East of England there is all to play for in central Suffolk.

Introducing James Sandbach, former national Party President and Suffolk based Baroness Ros Scott, spoke of the space opening up in the centre ground for an open, common sense alternative to the two old parties as they moved to the extremes. Neither Johnson nor Corbyn were fit to lead the country out to the chaos for which both had been largely responsible.

In thanking members for their endorsement of his candidature, James Sandbach, said Brexit was a defining issue for the Party in this election. Europe has been in the party's DNA from the outset. European Law was based on international law and those who wanted to to escape from European law risked undermining the very basis upon which the peace, stability and world order was maintained. James added, the party would shortly be publishing its 2019 Manifesto and he highlighted the Party's green agenda, a promise to make 35 hours of early years free child care available and continue the drive to make mental health service provision a priority.

Turning to his campaign in Central Suffolk & North Ipswich James promised to work for the benefit of his constituents across both the small rural communities and larger residential area. Successive conservative authorities had taken the shire communities for granted, under-resourced local bus services, forced more and more people to live more isolated lives and increased the dependency on the private vehicle. Areas still had inadequate access to broadband, GP surgeries were understaffed and significant additional housing, much of it unaffordable was being approved without the infrastructure to sustain it. He would work to ensure that the green environment agenda was embedded in the the constituency and played its part in tackling climate change. Large parts of the constituency were now facing real concerns about the plans for a northern bypass which he opposed. There was a need to look again at alternative options including the river crossing and acceptable solutions to the Ipswich traffic management issues.

James promised to be a full-time constituency MP if elected, maintaining close and regular contact with constituents, responding promptly and taking up their concerns and above all being available.

CSNI like the rest of the UK deserved a fresh start and a brighter future with the Liberal Democrats.

END

Published by Gary Kitching on behalf of James Sandbach (Liberal Democrats) all at Harvest Barn, Church Farm, Clay Hills, Framlingham, Suffolk, IP13 9JJ