TIME TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY - Letter (09/04/05)

I am sure that your readers grow rather weary, as I do, of reading yet another letter from a certain Taunton Lib Dem County Councillor accusing the Conservatives of lying. I want people to be interested and not turned off by politics and issues which affect us all. Therefore, I will leave the mudslinging to him, and assume he is simply unaware of what others in his party have to say about Church Schools.

Perhaps he did not attend the Lib Dem Spring Conference, where the Lib Dem Education spokesman, Phil Willis, said "I recognise many delegates would like to go that far...to abolish church schools".

Or did not hear Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem Party President, who said "It is important...to move away from faith-based admissions polices. I have seen them do no good."

I am not sure quite how he would be unaware of these facts, but at the least he should check the statements of senior members of his party before accusing the Conservatives of lying.

Turning to the other part of his letter, it is a fact that Somerset's dilipadated school buildings require over £60m worth of repairs and maintenance. The Lib Dems have been in charge for 12 years. They have had 12 years in which to address this issue. They have had 12 years to sort this out. I was therefore rather surprised to see the Lib Dem Councillor blame the Conservatives and Labour.

The Conservatives have stated quite clearly in our manifesto that we will get a grip on our dilipadated school buildings. We will address this problem - we will not blame others. I urge the people of Somerset to elect a party that is willing to take responsibility, and to be accountable to them.

Christopher Wolverson,

Leader of the Conservative Group, Somerset County Council