New Labour have enjoyed virtually no "official opposition": this Government has simply perpetuated Tory policies, but with one notable exception. Heralded by Alan Milburn at the start of this election as Labour’s most effective tool in maintaining economic stability - "their greatest achievement" - I refer to the long-standing Liberal Democrat policy of making the Bank of England politically independent. Our ideas are soundly based on the fundamental principles of freedom for the individual and fairness for all with the added bonus of trust. Our plans to replace Council Tax with Local Income Tax must be fair if you accept that Income Tax is fair - why should principles be different for different taxes? I think those earning over £100,000 a year should contribute towards free care for the elderly and higher education.

With growing evidence of cover-up and deceit, I am proud of our consistency over the Iraq war. I want to see a strengthened Europe able to balance the insidious "Americanisation" of our ever-shrinking World.