Vince Cable visits Felixstowe and celebrates the Party's 30th Birthday.
Party Leader's visit to Felixstowe
Vince Cable met party members and supporters at Felixstowe on Saturday when he and his wife Rachel joined the local branch's 30th birthday celebrations.
Vince meets local Liberal Democrats at Felixstowe and cuts the Lib Dems 30th Birthday cake with East Suffolk Party President Harry Dangerfield and Jan Candy
Vince Cable adds his name to the Parliamentary online Petition to close the taxation loophole on second homes with David Beavan and Jan Candy
Vince's visit to the local party's birthday celebrations at St Mary's Parish Hall, Walton followed his participation in the Felixstowe Book Festival where he spoke about his debut novel Open Arms an explosive thriller which circles from Whitehall to the slums of Mumbai.
After enjoying the local branch annual summer strawberry tea he cut the local party's 30th birthday cake and signed the 'second homes' parliamentary petition online before speaking to members and supporters.
Vince thanked the local party for the welcome - adding that he had been made very welcome at the Felixstowe Book Festival - and had a warm feeling about Felixstowe.
After some difficult years, post coalition the Party is now back on the road to recovery. In May we did significantly better than the Conservatives and Labour, gaining about 75 seats and the recent by-election at Lewisham was the best result in ten years. Next May - there will be advances - it should be exceptionally good for us - we are returning - there is resurgence, and a positive feeling
Parliament is going through a difficult period. It is NOT normal - everything is dominated by Brexit - people say it's "boring" - they are angry and intolerant. Parliament has ground to a halt. Government is completely occupied with it - they are a mess - they are internally divided.
Negotiating the exit from the EU was never going to be easy. There is immense complexity and It's proving very very difficult for Government. The Liberal Democrats offer an alternative - to stop Brexit. A week ago, in London, there was a wonderful occasion, with over 100,000 people marching for a 'Peoples Vote on the Deal'. There is a groundswell of feeling in the country that it's a mess. The public mood could shift.
Vince referred to our new housing policy - for affordable, low-cost housing for young families. There is an enormous gulf between generations. The shortage in supply of housing leads to unfairness.
David Beavan and his team in Southwold have campaigned on the issue of second homes. We are getting back into national consciousness with success in local campaigns.
End