A SENIOR Lib Dem councillor has criticised his own party for not having a clearer message over their policies.

Ric Morgan, Southend's Lib Dem spokesman for education, also blasted the national party for teaming up with the Conservatives to form a Coalition Government.

Mr Morgan, who is up for re-election in Prittlewell, said: “The Tories are blundering ahead but we are not putting forward clear alternative policies, neither us nor the Labour Party.

“We are not clear on the specifics of local government and what a Lib Dem council would do.

“That’s a serious concern for me.

“Are we in favour of the Better Southend policies? Are we happy about what’s happening with the pier?

“There’s no clear direction.

“It’s a failure of the Lib Dem group.”

Mr Morgan, who said he has already made his feelings clear to other Lib Dem colleagues, went on to say that he is unhappy with the national Lib Dems too and described the controversial university tuition fees hike as “a betrayal”.

Despite this, Mr Morgan believes the Lib Dems will do well in the local elections but emphasised they need to disassociate themselves from the “Tory cuts”.

Tony Borton, the Labour candidate for Blenheim Park, said: “I think the fact that a senior Liberal Democrat could make such an outspoken attack on his own party shows that the Lib Dems are finished as a political force in Southend.”

* Other candidates in Prittlewell ward are: Garry Cockrill of UKIP, Tory Mel Day and Helen Symons of the Labour Party.