PPC RESIGNS IN EASTLEIGH

Dan Clarke, a Labour PPC in Eastleigh, Chris Huhne's constituency, has resigned and is joining the Liberal Democrats. He's made the wrong decision.
Dan's disillusionment with Government policy is one shared by many others, including myself. When Gordon Brown became leader two years ago I hoped the Party would change direction. It was never going to implement the LRC's manifesto but one hoped for a decisive move away from New Labour ideology,
Events have ordained the Government had to step in and bail out the banks - but the same people remain in charge and the billion we have spent doing so are clearly not available for other deserving cause ie people on welfare benefits, people facing soariung utility bills, rocketing tuition fees. Et etc etc. Ay thr weekend Stephen Byers said it was time for the Government to consider scrapping ID cards and Trident because of the cost involved. We should also consider scraping them because it would help restore faith in the Party, mean cash could be diverted towards social justice, and maybe, just maybe, stop people tearing up their Party cards.
I have several friends standing as PPCs in unwinnable seats. They are the only ones left candidates don't get stitched up in. But I know that Gary Heather in Tunbridge Wells and John Wiseman in Westmorland and Lonsdale will use their candidacy to contiunue to fight for the policies they believe in and give people faith that one day things will change. Closer to home, I have friends who are now considering leaving Labour right across the political spectrum. I won't be one of them. But I fully understand why they feel they can no longer stay.
Alicde Mahon, I'm glad to say, will still be campaigning with us in the LRC. Dan Clarke's reasons for leaving are below

http://www.labourhome.org/story/2009/4/26/123957/105