200 days to go - Liberal Democrats set sight on victory in Edinburgh North & Leith

11.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Oct 2009

Kevin Lang addresses the special '200 days to go' summit.

With 200 days to go until the most likely date of the General Election, the Liberal Democrats tonight held a special campaign summit in Newhaven where campaigners from across Edinburgh North & Leith were promised the biggest ever Lib Dem campaign in the constituency between now and next May.

Edinburgh North & Leith is one of the Liberal Democrats' top target seats anywhere in the UK. They came a close second to Labour here, both at the last General Election and in the Scottish Parliament election.

The constituency is now considered one of the key marginal seats to watch at the next General Election, with a close result expected between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

The choice for local voters has become more straightforward after both the Conservatives and SNP admitted they were out of the race. A Conservative councillor has already admitted the Liberal Democrats are the real challengers to Labour and the SNP's own candidate confessed that Edinburgh North & Leith is not an obvious target.

Addressing members and supporters during the meeting, Westminster candidate Kevin Lang said it was time for a change.

"Edinburgh North & Leith just the kind of constituency that has been let down after 12 years of Labour government - a place that has for too long been taken for granted by the Labour Party.", he said.

"Every week, I knock on literally hundreds of doors, and every week, I am reminded of why I am in politics. I meet the person who has been made redundant and who simply can't find another job. I meet the mother and father who can't afford to send their daughter to university. I met a pensioner just last week who told me she won't go out after 7 o'clock because of the crime in her area. People feel let down by Labour and are looking for a real alternative.

"That is why we will campaign like we have never campaigned before and use the next 200 days to take our positive message of change to the people of Edinburgh North & Leith."

Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Chair of the local Liberal Democrat campaign, promised the biggest ever Lib Dem campaign in the constituency.

Edinburgh North & Leith Lib Dem members hear about the campaign ahead

He said, "Over the next 200 days, we will campaign with one aim in mind - victory. Kevin Lang would make a first class local Member of Parliament for Edinburgh North & Leith and would be a real champion for our area, both in and out of the House of Commons.

"Kevin would contrast starkly with the current Labour MP, who has let local people down by voting time after time against the interests of his constituents - voting for student top-up fees, to close post offices, for compulsory and expensive identity cards, to increase tax on the poor and to stop an independent inquiry into the war in Iraq. He has not been Edinburgh North & Leith's champion at Westminster, he has been Gordon Brown's champion in Edinburgh and it is time for a change."

If you can help the local Liberal Democrat campaign, contact info@northandleithlibdems.org.uk