Alok Sharma and his Conservative campaign team have launched their campaign today with a flurry of activity across the Reading West constituency. Teams of local election candidates and helpers have been supporting Alok delivering the first election leaflet to thousands of households and shoppers in key locations.



The leaflet sets out Alok’s four key campaign pledges:



1. To protect and improve local schools and NHS services,



2. More police on the beat to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour,



3. Protecting our green spaces from Labour’s housing targets,



4. To publish all personal expense claims, commute from Reading to Westminster, and not employ family members.



Alok said, “I am delighted that at long last the election campaign is underway. The people of Reading are crying out for a change of Government and I have been greatly encouraged by the reaction so far. People have been coming up to me to pledge their support and passing cars have been honking their horns in support. I sense a real mood that it is time for a change; the country simply can’t afford another five years of Gordon Brown.”