Norwich businesswoman April Pond , who stood in today's Parliamentary by-election after the resignation of the Labour MP due to financial abuse, will never play the nationalist card as part of her campaign:

"My father fought in WWII against Nazis alongside Poles and soldiers from many other countries. This is a history lesson that some people need reminding of," she said. "We owe a huge debt of  gratitude  to all those who fought against Nazi tyranny. Listening to  the hateful doctrines of the  BNP and other  so-called  patriotic groups is an insult to the memory of our  foreign allies."

"I know that the vast majority of Norwich citizens are against extremists and those who want to deny the  rights of European Union citizens," said the Liberal Democrat candidate.

April Pond, who has run bars and a jewellery shop in Norwich for many years, is also against the Worker Registration Scheme - a  £90 levy required from Eastern European A8 workers, if they are to work legally in the UK, but not from Cypriots  or  Maltese, whose countries  joined the European Union on the same day as the A8. The  right to impose the levy under  EU  law  was  recently extended by the  Labour Government until end of April 2011, in a move to appease ultra right-wing voters. 

Liberal Democrats believe in encouraging  Poles and other  A8 nationals to contact their local councillors with any problems they encounter that are within the scope of local authorities. 

Says Haringey Cllr John Oakes, General Secretary of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Poland: "Liberal Democrat councillors across the country serve many  local communities in which Poles constitute a significant minority. Representing them and helping  them to  solve their problems are duties that all LibDem councillors eagerly accept. I encourage Poles to use all their rights - including voting in local and European elections, belonging  to political parties and asking their representatives for help."