Devon County Council Elections: Lib Dems fight all South Hams seats

Liberal Democrats are fighting all the Devon County Council seats across the South Hams area, as part of the campaign to regain control of the County Council.

The selected candidates in the Divisions in the Totnes Constituency are:

• Dartmouth and Kingswear: Jan Henshall
• Kingsbridge and Stokenham: Julian Brazil (sitting councillor)
• South Brent and Dartington: David Robinson
• Thurlestone, Salcombe & Allington: Laurel Lawford
• Totnes Rural: Andrew Bridgwater.

At the April Constituency meeting, there was full support for the local party's policy of protecting local bus services. These had suffered cuts in the last three years in spite of the £125 million held in reserves in County Hall.

"We did a good job when in control of Devon County Council up to 2009, and we look forward to doing the same again after 2 May", said Keith Smith, Chairman of Totnes and Brixham Constituency Liberal Democrats.

Members were pleased to note the party's general commitment across the country not to close any library in a Lib Dem-run or Lib Dem-led authority this year.

They also welcomed changes brought about by Liberal Democrats in government nationally. These will provide £1.9 billion extra to schools, aimed at the most disadvantaged pupils; raise the income tax threshold again, lifting another two million people out of paying income tax altogether; and give nearly 25 million people a further income tax cut, bringing the total amount to £600 since Labour's last year in office.

The Lib Dem-inspired crack-down on tax avoidance, closing loopholes and catching tax avoiders, was also welcomed, as this should bring in an extra £9 billion annually by 2015.