Vote for real change now

WE have all been sickened by the recent MPs’ expenses scandal and yearn for something better.

Tomorrow, voters in the Moorlands have a once in a generation opportunity to change our flawed electoral system for one where the number of seats for each party is proportional to its vote.

It would get rid of the need for tactical voting against the party you dislike rather than supporting the one you wish to win and will put paid to these wacky scenarios where a party that comes third in the national vote can end up with the most seats.

But it would also remove the 40 per cent of safe seats that have not changed hands since 1945, a situation which lends itself to corruption.

The Tories cling to the existing discredited system arguing for ‘strong’ government, which certainly cannot be equated with effective government on the record of recent Labour and Conservative ones.

In the Moorlands the Tories’ claim to competence has been shattered by their performance in power. On affordable housing, one of the key priorities in their corporate plan, a recent report from the homelessness charity Shelter shows that the Conservatives have delivered an average of just 13 affordable homes a year since they seized control in the Moorlands in 2007. It’s the worst record in the West Midlands region, placing them 317 out of 323 councils in England.

So what of the other Conservative promises? Remember the Cornhill redevelopment that was going ahead within six months, also the multipurpose community theatre/ten-pin bowling scheme? The choice around here for the General Election is between the Liberal Democrats and the Tories.

Even before our recent surge in support the Lib Dems beat Labour in Staffordshire Moorlands constituency in both the European and county elections in 2009.

There is real excitement locally about the new politics offered by Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems.

I urge electors to grab this chance to vote for real change.