We may not have won, but we couldn’t have tried harder.

We achieved an 12% swing against Labour, saw a 73% increase in Lib Dem voters since the 2005 election and were one of only two seats in the country to beat the Conservatives into third place.

Thank you!

Until one month ago, many people I met felt ignored and let down by politics and democracy. I understood why.

But since the prime ministerial debates, thousands of people across the country have realised that there is a better way to do politics.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has inspired a whole new approach to politics. He has dared people to think, and vote, differently. That’s why we have received so much support here in Lewisham East, and that’s why Nick came to visit us in Blackheath on Monday.

Nick said, “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we could win here.”

Here in Lewisham East the choice is straightforward. More of the same with Labour, or a fresh start with the Liberal Democrats.

As a local teacher, resident and councillor, I have made one simple pledge. To listen to you and be loyal to you.

Thank you to all those who have supported our campaign to change Lewisham for good!

Floella Benjamin OBE backed our Lib Dem campaign when she paid a visit to Lewisham last week.

The former children’s TV presenter visited Manor House Gardens and Lewisham Town Centre to urge local residents to support the Liberal Democrats.

Floella said, “It was a joy chatting to some of the lovely people from all cultures both young and old, on my visit to Lewisham. It was good to hear about their hopes and their concerns. I feel having Pete Pattisson as their MP would be a wonderful asset in Parliament and help local people fulfil their aspirations.”

Whether you watched the prime ministerial debate this week, or have just read about it in the papers, you’ll know that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had a good night.

Up against the leaders of the two old parties, Nick spoke for many people who are exasperated with our failing political system. More than that, though – he offered solutions. So much so, both David Cameron and Gordon Brown conceded that on many points, they had to agree with Nick!

I agree with Nick.

I guess you’d expect me to say that! But on so many issues – smaller class sizes for schools, being honest about the cuts that need to be made, giving people a chance to sack corrupt MPs – Nick was right. Nick was also straight with people – cuts will have to be made. But we can make sure they fall in the right places – scrapping the like-for-like replacement of Trident, scrapping ID cards and cutting NHS bureaucracy.

I’m proud to be a member of a party that’s asking you to vote for something, rather than against the other parties. As a local teacher, that’s what I always told my students politics should be about.

Do you agree with Nick?

Here in Lewisham East, we have a real chance of electing a Lib Dem MP who’ll sit in Parliament with Nick Clegg and Vince Cable – challenging the two old parties. If you agreed with what Nick said last night, there are three ways you can help us here in Lewisham East:

1. Put up a poster in your window or garden to show your support.

2. Help our campaign by delivering some leaflets in your neighbourhood.

3. Vote Lib Dem on May 6th! We WON in Lewisham East at the last Council elections. If people vote the same way at the General Election, we can elect a Lib Dem MP and give Nick Clegg a stronger voice in Parliament.

If you can help, just click on the ‘Supporters’ button on the right and send me a message!

I met Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg last week to discuss our plans to invest £2.5billion in education. As a former Lewisham teacher, education is one of my priorities. The Lib Dems will be putting an extra £2.5 billion into schools to cut class sizes so children get the individual attention they need to thrive. This means an average of £2,500 extra per pupil for the schools teaching the million most deprived children in the country, funded by taking above-average earners out of the tax credit system and cutting wasteful programmes at the Department for Education.

The Liberal Democrats will also phase out tuition fees over the course of six years, so that, after school, everyone who gets the grades has the opportunity to go to university without fear of debt, no matter what their background.

The Liberal Democrats have got a great team of candidates at the up-coming elections – a team that reflects the diversity of our borough. I’m excited that Jenni Steele, Shirley Drummonds and Janet Bowens (left to right above) will be representing the Lib Dems at the elections on May 6th. They all graduated from Operation Black Vote’s Civic Leadership Development Programme.

Tenants on two estates in Lewisham East have recently been facing major changes… without being given a say on what those changes are. The Crown Estate is threatening to sell off its properties in Lee Green against the wishes of the tenants, and without a vote, or even an effective consultation process. I joined a large rally of tenants from The Crown Estate properties across London last week and called on The Crown to explain why is was proposing the sell off when the estate clearly meets the urgent need in Lewisham for more social and affordable housing.

Tenants and residents on Excalibur Estate were also facing a major change without being given a vote. The Council was proposing to re-develop the Estate through a regeneration scheme, which does not oblige them to offer residents a ballot – a crucial part of the plans for the Estate up till then. I have campaigned to secure a vote for residents, which I believe is the fairest way forward. Last week we convinced the Lewisham Mayor to agree to this, and I look forward to a speedy and fair decision on the future of the Estate.