Friday, December 07, 2012
Liberal Democrats win battle on regional pay
The Chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement on Wednesday that the Government no longer intends to expand regional and local pay, a policy that would have had a detrimental effect on Wales.
Over the past year the Welsh Liberal Democrats have led the campaign against regional and local pay. In September, the we took a motion to the UK party conference calling for Ministers to put an end to Tory plans for regional pay.
I am delighted that the Liberal Democrats have put a brake on George Osborne’s plans for regional or local pay. Yes, we need to rebalance the economy, but regional or local pay isn’t the answer.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have always believed that moves towards regional or local pay would further ingrain regional inequalities. It is the people of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend that would have paid the price for this ill-thought out policy. That is why we took our campaign against regional pay to our Party Conference, which not only secured our party’s position on the matter, but also gave our Ministers in Government a clear direction. I am immensely proud that the Welsh Liberal Democrats played such a key part in this campaign.
Over the past year the Welsh Liberal Democrats have led the campaign against regional and local pay. In September, the we took a motion to the UK party conference calling for Ministers to put an end to Tory plans for regional pay.
I am delighted that the Liberal Democrats have put a brake on George Osborne’s plans for regional or local pay. Yes, we need to rebalance the economy, but regional or local pay isn’t the answer.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have always believed that moves towards regional or local pay would further ingrain regional inequalities. It is the people of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend that would have paid the price for this ill-thought out policy. That is why we took our campaign against regional pay to our Party Conference, which not only secured our party’s position on the matter, but also gave our Ministers in Government a clear direction. I am immensely proud that the Welsh Liberal Democrats played such a key part in this campaign.
