Lib Dems' - Nu m0uld

12.00.00am GMT Wed 23rd Mar 2005

Ipswich Liberal Democrats haven't "broken the mould" of local politics, they've gone for a high tech "Nu m0uld". Unlike Labour and the Tories, who are funded by big business and the unions, the Lib Dems are dependent on the donations of their members. This means that offices and infrastructure have been beyond the reach of the local party in the past.

But more and more people are joining Lib Dems LibDems and want to find the local party, so necessity is the mother of invention - with a helping hand from technology.

Lib Dems local LibDems have struck a deal to have an 0845 number - which can be called at lo-call rates - which is then either call-forwarded to a real, live person, or to voice-mail; the voice mail message is then sent by email to a committee member so the caller gets a prompt response.

The number couldn't be easier to remember: start with 0845 for a local rate call, then type in "nu m0uld" on the keypad, and you're in touch Lib Dems the local LibDems in Ipswich. If you prefer numbers to words, that's 0845 68 60853

Town centre office it isn't, but it doesn't cost an office rent and business Lib Dem.

Richard Atkins, local LibDem councillor and the party's candidate for the General Election, said "we are a party with new ideas, matching circumstances to requirements, and not just doing things the same old way".