Tory think tank "out of touch with reality"

12.16.11pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th Aug 2008

Liz Leffman, Prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Meon Valley, has described a Conservative-leaning think tank as "out of touch with reality" following the suggestion that people from towns and cities in the North should pack their bags and move to the South.

Policy Exchange, described as David Cameron's favourite think tank, claimed many towns and cities in the North were failing and regeneration would not save them. They suggested people should move to the South East instead.

Liz said: "We have already got too much development planned for our area as it is, so we could certainly do without a Tory think tank suggesting that we add more homes to the 122,000 already planned for Hampshire over the next 20 years.

"The idea that people should abandon the North and move to the already crowded South East, where house prices and living costs are sky high, is simply ridiculous."

Liz added: "I was brought up near Liverpool, and several members of my family live there. Liverpool is a vital and rapidly developing city. It's clear the Tories are out of touch with reality, and it would do both our northern cities and our area untold harm if they were to pursue such ideas."