Interview: Alan Beddow

“We’re the only party that’s actually committed to reducing student tuition fees.

We believe that it’s unfair to expect students to be straddled with crippling debts when they are trying to better themselves and also learn skills that will be of benefit to the country as a whole.

In the current economic climate, unfortunately we have got to be realistic about our priorities and the priorities are to get the economy back on track but we’re still committed to cutting students fees within six years.

If you read some of the papers and that seems a clear possibility [of a hung parliament in the next general election].

If so, we couldn’t be entering into a coalition with either party. I remember another conference I attended where this was discussed and it was clearly unpopular that we would enter a formal coalition with either.

One of the core elements of our manifesto is to reform Westminster. It’s not difficult to get right. Unfortunately, the system that we’ve had has let itself wide open to abuse.

If I was caught fiddling my expenses, I’d be out the door so fast I wouldn’t have time to clear my desk, and yet a backbench MP can sit there for the rest of his term on quite a reasonable salary.

What I would like to see is that we could support or indeed not support a government policy on an issue by issue basis, which I think will give us a greater voice, but also I think it would more democratic because it would represent the views of the people, rather than just signing up to another party’s manifesto.

We are the only party that have policies to bring about a better and fairer Britain. On the doorsteps in areas of Leamington where I know a lot of students live, we’re talking about issues such as having multiple occupancy.

I think it’s important that landlords provide a safe standard of housing. But also, I’m engaged here with the Liberal Democrats group at the university where we’ve now got a lot of information and I’m supporting the campaign here.

Most recently, I’ve been supporting the campaign to keep Warwick Fire Station open, which is another cut that has been put forward by the Conservative County Council. Also, another recent campaign is to look at saving the allotments in North Leamington, because they are under threat from housing. We need to keep our towns green and vibrant, and a nice place to live.”

**Liberal Democrat candidate Alan Beddow previously stood in the county elections in 2005.**