Lib Dem poll boost ahead of Thursday's crucial elections

11.44.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 31st May 2009

Look for the Lib Dem bird on both your ballot papers on Thursday

The Liberal Democrats have received a major boost ahead of this week's crucial local and European elections. They have moved ahead of Labour (and UKIP) to become the SECOND party in British politics and received an endorsement from a national newspaper. An ICM poll for the Telegraph (http://is.gd/KWmr) has the Lib Dems 3% ahead of Labour. Here in Epping Forest it means that Ann Haigh and Janet Whitehouse could be elected AND Linda Jack could join Andrew Duff as a Lib Dem MEP for this area. [More..]

Anyone who has some time to help the Lib Dem campaign in the last couple of days should just drop an email to info@eflibdems.org.uk

The Observer newspaper has called on people to back the Lib Dems on Thursday. They said (http://is.gd/KWwS) "On the environment, on civil liberties and on the mounting debt bubble, the Lib Dems were quietly but consistently ahead of the Westminster curve."

"Likewise on transparency. In 2007, they opposed the Conservative move, tacitly encouraged by Labour, to exempt Parliament from the Freedom of Information Act. The Lib Dems alone took a party line for openness."

"A credible record of support for transparency and for constitutional reform reflects well on Nick Clegg's team"

"This Thursday's vote is being held in a uniquely febrile climate. It should be about Europe; it will be about the expenses scandal. On both counts, it is a moment to reward the principled consistency of the Liberal Democrats."