TO promote the launch of their Gloucestershire manifesto the Stroud Liberal Democrats are holding a street stall this Saturday.

The launch kickstarts their campaign for the county council elections on Thursday, May 4.

Their flagship proposal is to stop the hard Brexit they feel the Conservative government is pushing for.

Stroud District Councillor for Wotton and county council candidate for Dursley, George Butcher, said: “We want this launch to really kick off our campaign and to send a message about keeping Britain open, tolerant and united”.

“We intend this stall to send a message to the people of Stroud that the Liberal Democrats are here to protect our status in Europe. We do not believe a ‘hard Brexit’ is right for business and for people.

“The manifesto will really set out our message about taking back control of our local amenities, roads and vital services and we are excited about what we are proposing for Gloucestershire.

“There will be a petition which calls on the government to keep the UK in the Single Market and customs union; we believe companies in Stroud need the UK to keep membership of the free trade area to ensure prosperity in the future.”

“90 per cent of people, whichever way they voted in the referendum, now want to keep Britain in the Single Market.

“Conservative supporters are horrified at their party following UKIP’s lead. Labour supporters are angry that their party does not speak for them on such a vital issue.

“Moderate Labour and Conservative supporters feel let down by their party and are switching to the Lib Dems.

“There was no vote for a hard Brexit. The Lib Dems will keep fighting against it, so come along and show your support.”

Lib Dem party members will be present at the stall opposite The Shambles in Stroud High Street from 10.30am for the public to chat to, along with some information about the party’s pledges.