Kevin Lang gives his New Year Message

9.00.00pm GMT Thu 31st Dec 2009

Kevin Lang wants to be a hard working local MP.

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Kevin Lang looks ahead to 2010.

There is no doubt that 2010 will be a momentous year.

Whatever happens, Prime Minister Gordon Brown must hold a General Election by June. Most people expect polling day to be May 6th to coincide with many local council elections that are also taking place in England. Some have speculated that he may go even earlier and go for an election in March.

Whatever the date, the Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh North & Leith will be ready and be campaigning to win.

At the last General Election, we came a close second to Labour - just 5% behind. Since then, we have continued to show that we are the only real challengers to Labour in this constituency. We once again came a close second to Labour in the Scottish Parliamentary elections, with the SNP in a poor third place. We also elected our first ever Liberal Democrat councillors.

Every week, I meet people who feel let down by Labour. It is clear that more and more local people agree it is time for a change and are switching to back our local campaign. 2010 gives us a chance to bring about that change.

There is no doubt that 2009 was a tough year for a great number of people in Edinburgh North & Leith. Many people found themselves without work and even more remain concerned about their current employment. Hundreds of families are continuing to struggle to make ends meet, hurt by the rising cost of living.

The Government needs to do much more to help in 2010 than it did in 2009. They need to ensure those who find themselves unemployed, particularly the young to get the help they need to get back into work. We also need a major change to the tax system, giving those on low and middle incomes a cut in their income tax and taking the lowest paid out of paying tax altogether. We can do this by getting those earning the most to pay some more in tax.

We also need to see more action to tackle crime. I know that in too many parts of Edinburgh North & Leith, people are still scared to go out after dark because of crime and anti social behaviour. The Liberal Democrat led local council have been taking some great initiatives to reduce crime but there is more to do. That is why we need to scrap the ridiculous and expensive identity card scheme and put that money into more front line police.

2010 will also be an important year to protect our important local public services. Just last month, I was once again able to see the fantastic service of our National Health Service with the arrival of my gorgeous new baby girl Madeleine. Whether it is schools, hospitals or police, we need to keep investing in our important local public services.

That is why Edinburgh North & Leith needs and deserves a hard working local Member of Parliament. Living locally in this constituency with my family, I know about local problems because I have to live with them too. Ours is a great place to live and work but it is a place with many challenges and many needs.

For too long, I believe Labour has taken our area for granted. It is a party that has let local people down, closing some of our important local post offices and allowing the gap between rich and poor to increase to levels not seen since the days of Margaret Thatcher.

We can do better than this and I want to try and help bring about change.

That is why I will be working as hard as I can over these coming months to show local people that I am the best person to represent our local community, both in and out of the House of Commons.

Wishing you all the very best for 2010.

Kevin