CONFERENCE UPDATE: Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable joins Kevin to highlight rising cost of living.

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 14th Sep 2008

Vince Cable MP and Kevin Lang highlighting how the cost of the basket of shopping has increased over the last year.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP has backed Edinburgh North & Leith campaigner Kevin Lang and his campaign to highlight the rising cost of living under the Labour Government.

Recent months have seen considerable increases in the cost of food and fuel. The cost of a basket of groceries has been found to have increased by as much as 26% over the last year, leaving many families in Edinburgh North & Leith struggling.

At the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth today, Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable joined local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Kevin Lang to highlight the rising cost of living under Labour.

Speaking at the conference in Bournemouth, Kevin said,

"Just a few weeks ago, I launched my survey for residents in Edinburgh North & Leith about the rising cost of living. Already, we have received thousands of completed surveys back, a truly massive response.

"It is clear that people are increasingly concerned about the cost of food, fuel and housing. People are also angry that Labour are offering little in the way of a solution, with a dithering Prime Minister who is increasingly out of touch and fast running out of time.

"Liberal Democrat plans to cut income tax would help put more money back into the pockets of hard working families. We will also focus that help on those who need it most, including those on low incomes who were hit hard by Gordon Brown's decision to double the 10p starting rate of tax, a massively unpopular measure supported by Edinburgh North & Leith's local Labour MP.

"It was great to have Vince Cable, who is one of the most respected politicians in the UK on the economy, supporting my campaign."