CLEGG HOSTS 'TOWN HALL' MEETING IN NEWCASTLE

2.25.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Aug 2009

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is inviting the people of Newcastle to tell him what they think about everything under the sun from fixing the economy to rebuilding trust in politics.

Upon becoming leader, Nick Clegg spoke of creating a new type of politics: open, accessible, and helpful in people's everyday lives.

This direct conversation with people is part of that people's politics - no spin, no hand-picked audiences, and no planted questions.

The meeting will be chaired by Ron Beadle, Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle North, and is open to everyone to attend to ask any question they want to Nick Clegg.

The meeting will be held on September 10 at Gosforth Civic Hall, from 6.15pm.

Nick Clegg said: "I am looking forward to having a discussion with the people of Newcastle about problems they are facing and how together we can solve them.

"Since becoming leader of the Liberal Democrats I have travelled up and down the country listening to the concerns of thousands of people and families.

"It is now more and important than ever for politicians to get out of Westminster and engage with people about how to rebuild our economy and restore trust in politics."

Ron Beadle, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle North, said: "More and more key opinion formers and journalists have said how impressed they have been with the way that Nick has set the recent political agenda - on the Gurkhas, on MP expenses, on Trident and on Afghanistan.

"He is coming to Newcastle because the Liberal Democrats have shown what a difference they can make to peoples' lives when they are given the opportunity to run a big metropolitan council.

"Just like in Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Liverpool, the Liberal Democrats in Newcastle are showing how they can turn around a city after years of Labour mis-rule.

"Nick wants to get a handle on the issues that matter to Newcastle and I am sure that local residents will not be backward in coming forward with their questions and concerns."

To find out more see http://meet.NickClegg.com/newcastle and book free tickets for the event.