May election countdown: Interview with Wirral LibDem leader Councillor Simon Holbrook

Apr 20 2011 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

LIBERAL Democrat leader Simon Holbrook says he’s “not worried” about criticism at national level influencing Wirral’s local vote because he believes his party have “a good story to tell”.

The deputy leader of Wirral Council, who mirrored Parliamentary party leader, Nick Clegg by going into joint administration with the Conservatives last May, says he is “optimistic” about the upcoming poll, adding “it’s certainly not damage limitation”.

Conceding the party is “under pressure in some seats”, Simon Holbrook accused former coalition partners Labour of “dishonesty” and “opportunism”, by criticising spending cuts whilst offering “no credible alternative council budget”.

Simon Holbrook said: “I have been a councillor for 12 years and that has never happened before.”

The Lib Dems spent three years in joint administration with Labour, described as “a positive relationship” by Cllr Holbrook.

But he says there is a “different atmosphere” to the Tory partnership, which he characterises as “more of a dialogue and less of a negotiation”.

And while some may accuse the Lib Dems of jumping into bed with any party that provides a platform for power, Simon Holbrook disagrees.

He said: “I think it shows we can work successfully with other parties, where we have differences to overcome, in the best interests of local people.”

Talking up the Lib Dems’ record over the last 12 months, Cllr Holbrook said: “There’s 102,000 people in Wirral now who are getting a £200 income tax cut this year, as a result of a national raising of the income tax threshold, and 4,400 people in Wirral will be lifted out of paying income tax altogether.

“That’s a direct result of a Lib Dem commitment to increase the income tax threshold to £10,000 over the lifetime of this Parliament.

“We’ve got £5million extra going into Wirral schools through the pupil premium, which is straight out of the Lib Dem manifesto, and we’ve restored earnings linked pensions.

“If people do confuse local and national politics, I’m not worried because we’ve got a good story to tell on both counts.”

And despite huge budgetary pressure on local government as a direct result of national policies, Simon Holbrook believes his Wirral joint administration has responded better than most.

The Lib Dem leader said: “We’ve had to respond to perhaps the most difficult financial circumstances that have ever been put in front of local government.

“We’ve had to make a very large reduction in the budget and we’ve managed to do this whilst protecting front line services.

“We’re not closing Surestart centres, unlike some Labour councils, we’re not making anyone compulsory redundant and we’re not closing any libraries.”

Simon Holbrook says the focus must now be on growing Wirral’s economy “to reduce dependency on public sector jobs”.

He supports the introduction of the alternative vote because “it makes politicians of all parties broaden their appeal rather than narrow it.”