FROM: CLLR. ALEX PERKINS (Lib Dem Leader Canterbury City Council)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Mr Blair!

Canterbury's Liberal Democrat Council Leader has called for the Government to come clean over their budget health promises. "This budget is no more than an astonishing confidence trick" said Cllr Alex Perkins.

"Liberal Democrats called for special funding of the Health Service 4 years ago but the government refused then, and at the subsequent general election. Now we know why! They have run down our local health services to the point where they feel justified in shutting the inadequate acute services we still have in the city. This has been repeated in hospitals up and down the country." (Kidderminster for example)

"If they are really serious about providing a decent health service for us in the Canterbury District then they will be channelling some of the promised billions into retaining Accident & Emergency and critical services at the K&C."

"We are calling for the Prime Minister to put his money where his mouth is! We don't believe this government has any intention of protecting our local health services. It is up to him to prove us wrong!"