Lib Dems lead Labour and Tories on Reformist Credentials - Popham

10.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 31st May 2009

Speaking at a Local and European election meeting, Mike Popham, Bristol East Prospective Member of Parliament said "The Lib Dems have an impressive record of taking minority stands that are later vindicated. Just take the environment, civil liberties and the mounting debt bubble, we Lib Dems were consistently ahead of the Westminster curve".

" and transparency too" he said.

"In 2007, it was the Lib Dems who opposed the Conservative move, tacitly encouraged by Labour, to exempt Parliament from the Freedom of Information Act. The Lib Dems alone took a party line for openness."

"That is worth recalling as Cameron and Brown engage this week in an unseemly scramble for reformist credentials."

A credible record of support for transparency and for constitutional reform reflects well on Nick Clegg's team. This Thursday's vote is being held in a uniquely febrile climate. It should be about Europe; it will be about the expenses scandal.

On both counts, it is a moment to reward the principled consistency of the Liberal Democrats - not least for their long held beliefs for more autonomy from Ministers on local matters, and a European system of governance operated on Liberal Democrat values, principals and policies.