Steve Webb to head Liberal Democrats' manifesto team

9.53.07pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Oct 2006

The Liberal Democrats have appointed a group that will write the party’s General Election manifesto

The Liberal Democrats have appointed Steve Webb MP to head the group that will write the party's General Election manifesto. The decision was taken by the party's Federal Policy Committee last night under the chairmanship of party leader Sir Menzies Campbell.

Mr Webb, the party's Shadow Health Secretary and a vice-chair of the policy committee, will ensure the party is ready to fight a possible snap General Election in the autumn of 2007. He will chair a writing group that includes Sir Menzies, the party's Treasury team of Vince Cable MP and Julia Goldsworthy MP, campaigns chief Ed Davey MP, and Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary David Laws MP. Two new vice-chairs of the policy committee will also serve on the group.

He will also make sure the party's 70,000-plus members are more engaged with the manifesto process than ever before. Having won awards for use of e-mail and websites to keep in touch with his own constituents, he is expected to make extensive use of online consultations to ensure that party members have a major input in the next manifesto.

Steve Webb MP Liberal Democrats Shadow Health Secretary and a vice-chair of the policy committee

Sir Menzies said "I am delighted that Steve Webb has been appointed. Steve enjoys the confidence of his parliamentary colleagues and the party's Federal Policy Committee. The manifesto process will be started immediately, be fully costed and will consult with all sections of the party."

Steve Webb said "It's a great honour to be entrusted with the key role of writing the next manifesto at a time of great opportunity for the Liberal Democrats. The public is becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Government, both on foreign and domestic policy, and the Conservatives still a policy-free zone. People will be looking to the Liberal Democrats to give a lead on how to create a free, fair and green society in the 21st Century.

"People know that we are the only party that can be trusted to stand up for individual liberty and that a green thread of environmental sustainability runs through our policy thinking. Our Green Tax Switch policy package has already shown that we are setting the agenda in this key area. We are also working on policies to move control of key public services such as the NHS out of Whitehall and back into the hands of local people where it belongs."