Jo Campaigning at Party Conferences

Jo has always made sure Warrington's voice is heard at the Lib Dem Conference

September 2008

At the recent National Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth, the Parliamentary Spokesperson for Warrington South Councillor Jo Crotty called for greater local control over police funding, to put a stop to any future threat of cuts in officers.

Dr Crotty said, "The best people to set local police priorities are the local police along with local councils and other key local stakeholders. The best people to set budgets are local police authorities who understand the issues on the ground, and the best people to decide on police funding are local police authorities who know the best way to spend the money."

Jo addressing her delegates at the 2008 Liberal Democrat conference.

Dr Crotty also met with the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Justice Chris Huhne MP to talk about Warrington's battle with the Labour Government over the right to properly fund our police force.

Chris Huhne MP, Shadow Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Justice talks with Jo Crotty about the funding of Warrington's police.

Dr Crotty has featured prominently in policy debates during this year's conference and also spoke out on pensions. On Sunday Dr Crotty said, "We should celebrate the centenary of the state pension by taking pensioners out of poverty, restoring the link with earnings, and making entitlement on the basis of citizenship, not contribution."

Nick and Jo want to help people's pockets when it comes to rising food prices.

As the cost of living continues to riseout of control, even life-long Labour voters are turning their backs on Gordon Brown.

"Higher, higher and even higher" seems to be the story, and no- this isn't Bruce Forsyth's price is right- it's real life, and it's effecting us all.

Local people have been hit hard by the rising cost of living. Petrol prices, food bills and heating costs have all soared. Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Jo Crotty said, "Pensioners' groups have rightly attacked the government's inaction -what comfort are promises when you cannot afford to heat your home? Labour should be ashamed. They are letting down the people in Britain who need their help the most."

September 2007

At the 2007 National Lib Dem conference, the Parliamentary Spokesperson for Warrington South, Jo Crotty stated her intention to save her constiuency from upto another 5 years of Labour neglect. She told the BBC she expects to win the constituency at the next general election from Labour MP Helen Southworth. The Liberal Democrats are the largest party locally in Warrington, and believe they will turn their borough council success into a big win against Labour when the next election is called.

Speaking on the BBC's Politics Show with political editor David Woodthorpe, Dr Crotty underlined the fact that she was more than prepared for an election, and her chances had been given a boost by the Lib Dems winning more votes than Labour and the Conservatives combined in May's local elections.

"We won 52% of the vote and we took another seat from Labour," she said. "In Warrington we're on the up."

Crotty also spoke about the efforts Warrington Liberal Democrats have made this summer in knocking on thousands of doors to take the pulse of local voters and see which issues they care about most.

Crotty was keen to underline how seriously the Liberal Democrats take their election prospects. When asked about her chances against Helen Southworth, Crotty replied, "I'm expecting to win."

Jo Crotty told the BBC that she intended to win in Warrington South

At the Brighton conference she also address her party during a key debate on a Zero Carbon Britain - their chief environmental policy paper. Speaking from the conference stage, Crotty urged fellow party members to fulfill the pledges of what is the most serious and fleshed out green policies of any major party.Dr Crotty's high-profile appearance on stage at the annual conference - a stage that saw a string of MPs and influential party leaders also address different issues of the debate - goes someway to underlining the belief among Lib Dems that Crotty will soon be representing Warrington South as the constituency's elected member.

Crotty said after speaking at the debate, "I am very pleased to have been called to speak on the Lib Dem environmental policy. We have a comprehensive plan in place while the other parties are still running around looking for expensive photo opportunities, and only paying lip service to the environmental crisis facing us."

Jo Crotty has declared the Lib Dems as the only party with serious green credentials.

Showing her prominence within the party she also had a meeting with Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, about the concerns of Warrington residents following the run on Northern Rock. Dr Crotty, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Warrington South, met with Mr Cable at the Lib Dems' autumn conference. She was keen to seek answers to the many questions people in Warrington have about whether their hard-earned money would be safe during this uncertain period for banks.

Mr Cable was more than pleased to be able to reassure residents of Warrington who have savings and mortgages with Northern Rock. The government eventually decided to guarantee the savings of Warrington's citizens.

Jo Crotty said, "I was very impressed with the agreements that Liberal Democrat MPs have helped secure with regard to savings and mortgages. It's important that the people of Warrington know that their future is still secure and that they can access the money they need, when they need it."

"Liberal Democrats get the answers from government that people care about. We don't shy away from issues or try to fool people with political spin. We get the answers and we keep the Labour Government honest," she said.

"Questions must be asked about why the Government was so slow to respond to the concerns of the people over this issue. They let the situation get out of control, they let panic spread, and this is not acceptable. Gordon Brown should know most of all how important it is to maintain confidence in our banks."

Jo Crotty met with Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP to talk about Northern Rock.

On her return back to Warrington from the Lib Dem conference in Brighton last week, Dr Crotty declared the conference a success and held special praise for the closing speech of Sir Menzies Campbell, (then) Lib Dem Party Leader, which she watched from a seat on stage behind the podium.

"I thought that Ming's speech set exactly the right tone. The Conservatives are totally out of touch - both around the country and in Warrington especially. The Labour Party has lurched so far to the right of the mainstream on so many issues that it is difficult to tell the two parties apart."

"Warrington residents need an MP who will stand up for them and put Warrington first, not someone who blindly votes the party line. This is even more important now that Labour does not support the interests of most of the people of Warrington."