Ed Davey to launch Liberal Democrat bid to win Mid-Bedfordshire with sewage visit
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Lib Dem Leader makes first full campaign visit to inspect Bedfordshire river at risk from sewage discharges
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New analysis finds water companies dumped sewage into Bedfordshire rivers for 3,500 hours last year
Today (Monday 12th June) Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey will start the firing gun on his party’s bid to win the Mid-Bedfordshire constituency.
In his first full by-election campaign visit, Ed Davey will declare the constituency “a close race between the Liberal Democrats and out of touch Conservative party. Next month, people across Bedfordshire have the chance to finally get rid of this chaotic sham of a Government”.
As part of his first visit, Ed Davey will inspect a river which is at risk of sewage discharges by Anglian Water. A protest was held last month in Bedford against polluting water companies and there have been reports by local dog walkers in Leighton Buzzard of rivers being turned brown.
Analysis by the Liberal Democrats finds water companies dumped 3,500 hours worth of sewage into Bedfordshire rivers last year on 472 separate occasions.
Ed Davey will also knock on doors to listen to local people and their concerns.
The Liberal Democrats have proven to be the best challengers against the Conservative party in rural Blue Wall seats. The party won three historic by-elections against the Conservative party and in last month’s local elections, the Liberal Democrats gained over 400 seats, mostly in Blue Wall contests against the Conservative party.
The Liberal Democrats have considerable strength across Bedfordshire, including ousting the Conservative party from controlling Central Bedfordshire council this May, and running Bedford Borough Council for almost two decades. The constituency is also neighboured by Liberal Democrat MPs including Sarah Green, winner of the Chesham and Amersham by-election.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
“The British public have had enough of the endless Conservative party sleaze and scandal. Next month, people across Bedfordshire have the chance to finally get rid of this chaotic sham of a Government. Mid-Bedfordshire will be a close race between the Liberal Democrats and an out of touch Conservative party.
“Lifelong Conservative voters in towns and villages across the country have been telling me it's time for change. These communities are backing the Liberal Democrats to send this Government a message.
“This Conservative government is taking people for granted; from spiralling mortgage rates, to record NHS waiting lists and sewage in rivers.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
'horrified' Leighton Buzzard dog walker's claims that he spotted raw sewage in brook