OVER the past couple of months Liberal Democrats have carried out a “One-Minute Survey”

about the credit crunch in the Stockton South constituency.

From reading the responses of residents and talking to people on doorsteps during the European election campaign it seems that this was affecting local people in a variety of ways:

● Some people have been affected by redundancy;

● Many people have seen their income from investments reduced;

● Small businesses are finding it hard to obtain bank loans to assist a reduced cash flow;

● Many people are worried about the rise in their cost of living.

As the Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for the constituency I am working alongside local Liberal Democrat councillors to make sure that the voice of local people is heard.

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat shadow Chancellor, is working on ways to improve the economy and I will be sending the results of our local survey to him so that he is aware of the situation in Stockton.

I would like to thank all those who responded to our credit crunch survey.

Jacquie Bell, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson, Stockton South.