Bridgwater and West Somerset Liberal Democrats

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg used his speech to the Party's Spring conference in NewcastleGateshead to call for the forthcoming budget to be a "budget for fairness" and pledged that it would help working familes.

The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that by 2015 Britain would have seen an end to control orders, the first gay marriages and the first elections to the House of Lords.

Fairer taxes, promoting green jobs, protecting your civil liberties - these are just some of the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government.

We're building a freer, greener and more liberal country - and stopping some of the worst excesses of the Conservatives. Find out more in this infographic.

In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

The Liberal Democrat candidates in the Bridgwater and West Somerset Constituency for the West Somerset, Sedgemoor and Bridgwater Town Council elections are:

West Somerset Council

Old Cleeve - Ian Galloway

Watchet - Tony Bowden

Sedgemoor District Council

East Poldens - Camael King

Bridgwater Dunwear - Dan Kelly

On 5th May you have a choice. You can keep the discredited First Past the Post system to elect our MPs, or you can choose a new and fairer system - Alternative Vote (AV). Back the campaign for change at www.YesToFairerVotes.org

AV is a small change that makes a big difference.

Saying YES! to Fairer Votes Means:

Woolavington by-election - 30th September

A by-election for the Woolavington ward of Sedgemoor District Council will take place on 30th September. Tina Marsh has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate, check back soon for more news.

Tina and the Lib Dem team have been conducting a survey to find out what issues people in Woolavington are concerned about. If you would like to take part in the survey you can fill it in on line or download a copy by following the links below:

Liberal Democrats are this week celebrating their best performance in Bridgwater and West Somerset since 1997.

The Liberal Democrat result in the newly expanded constituency improved for the first time since 1997, whilst the Conservative vote share fell compared to 2005 and the Labour Party suffered its worst result locally since 1945 when they tried to unseat the Independent Progressive MP Vernon Bartlett.

Prompted by former Conservative MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger's continued refusal to take part in any of the public meetings arranged by community groups in Bridgwater and West Somerset, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Theo Butt Philip has written to Mr Liddell-Grainger offering him a last-ditch opportunity to debate local issues in a public meeting.