Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Liberal Democrats block more welfare cuts
The Independent reports that a government-wide spending review is to be scaled back because Nick Clegg is refusing to commit to billions of pounds of further cuts in the welfare budget.
They say that the Deputy Prime Minister is facing a grassroots revolt from Liberal Democrats against signing up to a detailed package of public spending cuts during the two years after the 2015 general election. Activists are threatening to table an emergency motion at the party's autumn conference in an attempt to prevent the leadership supporting a new round of cuts, which they fear would be deeply unpopular.
However, Mr Clegg and other Liberal Democrat ministers were already worried about plans floated by David Cameron and George Osborne for an extra £10bn of welfare cuts. They believe they could not be imposed without harming vulnerable people.
Instead, the party is likely to fight the election on a pledge to clear the remaining deficit through tax rises such as a mansion tax on homes worth more than £2m and a cut in the 40 per cent tax relief on pension contributions enjoyed by higher rate taxpayers.
It is a compelling narrative and one I can support wholeheartedly. It also shows once again how the Liberal Democrats in Government are seeking to restrain the worse excesses of the Tories.
They say that the Deputy Prime Minister is facing a grassroots revolt from Liberal Democrats against signing up to a detailed package of public spending cuts during the two years after the 2015 general election. Activists are threatening to table an emergency motion at the party's autumn conference in an attempt to prevent the leadership supporting a new round of cuts, which they fear would be deeply unpopular.
However, Mr Clegg and other Liberal Democrat ministers were already worried about plans floated by David Cameron and George Osborne for an extra £10bn of welfare cuts. They believe they could not be imposed without harming vulnerable people.
Instead, the party is likely to fight the election on a pledge to clear the remaining deficit through tax rises such as a mansion tax on homes worth more than £2m and a cut in the 40 per cent tax relief on pension contributions enjoyed by higher rate taxpayers.
It is a compelling narrative and one I can support wholeheartedly. It also shows once again how the Liberal Democrats in Government are seeking to restrain the worse excesses of the Tories.
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"It also shows once again how the Liberal Democrats in Government are seeking to restrain the worse excesses of the Tories."
If only they were effective
So sad to see your party between a rock and a hard place.
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If only they were effective
So sad to see your party between a rock and a hard place.
# posted by 
: 6:11 PM
: 6:11 PM<< Home
