ONLY A GENERAL ELECTION CAN CLEAR THE AIR NOW

1.46.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 1st Jun 2009

St Albans Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson Sandy Walkington is calling for a general election at the earliest possible opportunity in the light of the current MP expenses scandal.

"After talking to hundreds of local people across the district over the past few weeks, they have made it clear to me that their anger and frustration at the expenses scandal is reaching boiling point. Only a general election and a fresh start can restore their trust in Britain's parliamentary democracy," Sandy said.

"This is the clear message from the people of St Albans. I hope that Mrs Main and Cllr Mills will join with me in pressing for an early poll. We cannot limp on into next year with these drip-feed revelations eating like a cancer into our parliamentary institutions.

"I fully support Nick Clegg's campaign for root-and-branch reform when the election comes. The Liberal Democrats have been entirely consistent in saying that current politics is broken. It is tragic that the other parties have only come round to this understanding after disappointing and grubby revelations about the poor judgement and greed of some MPs."