On Saturday 9th January, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy MP, visited Salisbury to answer questions from local people at a public meeting.

To a capacity crowd at Bishop Wordsworth’s School, Charles Kennedy MP answered questions on any topic the audience raised. Questions and answers ranged from providing a fair system of voting and taxation in the UK, to access to local healthcare, to the events surrounding the Liberal Democrat opposition to the invasion of Iraq in 2005.

Speaking to those present at the Q&A, Charles Kennedy MP said:

“Salisbury’s MP Robert Key and I were both elected to Parliament in 1983. When I heard he was retiring I knew it would completely change the political situation here in Salisbury. The outcome of the next election here is now far from certain – Salisbury is no longer a safe Conservative seat.”

“I wanted to visit the area to give my support to Nick Radford, the Prospective Lib Dem MP. I think he would be an excellent MP for Salisbury – local, qualified and dynamic, as MP he would bring a much needed fresh start to politics in this area.”

Thanking Charles for his visit Nick Radford, Prospective Lib Dem MP for Salisbury said:

“Charles is the second former leader of the Liberal Democrats that we’ve managed to attract to Salisbury in the last 3 months – we are extremely grateful he has come such a long way, and taken time out his busy schedule, to spend the evening with us.

“I think that the ‘public meeting’ could make a comeback in Britain, in an age of cynicism they are a genuine way in which people can connect directly with politicians."

“In the run up to the General Election I will be hosting a series of my own public meetings across the Salisbury Constituency, where I will listen to local people, answer their questions, and show people what kind of MP I would be for Salisbury”.