The Conservative party answers anxieties from local residents following the barrage of election material been sent out by the Liberal Democrats in Berwick-upon-Tweed. The leaflets contain "misleading" claims and "scaremongering" about non-existent plans for regional pay. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne has now intervened, heavily criticising the Liberal Democrats election tactics in the marginal seat of Berwick and clearly setting out the Conservatives's position on the issue.
A Conservative spokesman said; "It is is very clear that the Liberal Democrats are desperate to hang on to this seat and it is being very hotly contested. However, we draw a line at deliberately misleading claims being made in their election literature and their constant attempts to smear their opponents. We have asked Nick Clegg's candidate to sign the 'fair fight pledge' but this request has, so far, been ignored."
Statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer
It is disappointing that the Liberal Democrat candidate in Berwick is making misleading statements about Conservative policies in an attempt to gain votes. Let me make our position clear.
We are not going to introduce regional pay in the public sector. Our hard-working nurses and teachers deserve better than to be subject to scaremongering suggestions to the contrary.
We are not going to introduce for-profit schools. Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have been working together over the last five years to raise standards in local schools, and it is sad to see Liberal Democrats trying to pretend otherwise because an election is near.
We are not going to take away workers’ rights. We have given more rights to older workers and working parents, and we have increased the penalties employers face for breaching the minimum wage.
We are proud of our record in government. Because we have stuck to our economic plan we have got our economy back on track and created more good jobs in Northumberland and across the country.
As the Liberal Democrats resort to chaotic scaremongering, Conservatives will keep on setting out the positive reasons to back a long-term plan which is working and the competent leadership our country needs.