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Tue 30th Sep 2008:

Liberal Democrat Economic Recovery Plan.

Measures in the Economic Recovery Plan include tax cuts for low and middle income households, stopping unnecessary repossessions, action to cut energy bills and moves to stop reckless banks jeopardising economic security.Click here to read the Liberal Democrat Economic Recovery Plan Introduction from Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Gordon Brown's response to the economic crisis has been too little, too late. For years I warned him of the oncoming economic problems. Unsustainable levels of personal debt, mostly secured against the illusory ‘wealth' of rising, vastly inflated property prices. An economy based so heavily on debt was never going to be in a fit state to deal with global shocks like the credit crunch. And so it has proved. Gordon Brown is now facing the consequences of his years of inaction. The housing bubble has burst. Unemployment is rising fast. Tens of thousands of families are losing their homes. With people struggling with massive debts and fast rising bills it is now almost inevitable that the UK is heading for recession. Gordon Brown used to boast we were better prepared than our competitors for a downturn. Yet the OECD's respected economic forecasters now predict we will fare worst among the world's seven leading economies (G7) in the current crisis. What Britain needs now, and urgently, is practical action to help people who are struggling - to put money back in their pockets, to cut their energy bills, and help them keep their homes. Gordon Brown and Labour can't offer that. They got us into this mess. Now they are veering between complacency and anic. Dithering on key decisions, muddling along on half measures. David Cameron and the Conservatives won't offer it. At a time when those on the breadline are struggling more than for a generation, their top priority is tax cuts for millionaires. It's not good enough to just keep muddling along and hoping. We need a serious plan to get Britain's economy up and running again. That is why Nick Clegg and I have put together the Liberal Democrat Fairer Future Economic Recovery Plan. Our plan would: Put more money in people's pockets - tax cuts for people on low and middle incomes,  Stop unnecessary home repossessions and provide more affordable housing, Make energy companies reinvest their windfall profits in cutting bills, and Deliver extra help for people in debt or who lose their jobs. And we will bring the free-wheeling, ‘anything goes' short-termism of the City to an end. We cannot continue with a culture where bankers pocket big bonuses for taking reckless risks, but when things go wrong government and taxpayers have to step in to pick up the pieces. Please read the plan, and share it with other people you know. There is only one party in Britain today with a serious and credible plan to get Britain's economy back on its feet - and to provide real help to those struggling in the meantime. That is the Liberal Democrats. Vincent Cable MPLiberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor PS. With events developing as rapidly as they are you might also want to check out the latest statements from me and my colleagues on the economy section of the party website. And if you want my broader take on the current economic situation you might want to read my speech from the recent party conference in Bournemouth.

Clegg: Government must guarantee all bank deposits to protect British savers.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has called for all bank deposits to be protected as the global financial crisis deepened. Speaking in the wake of the failed vote on the American bail-out package in the US Congress, Mr Clegg said the Government must temporarily guarantee for all deposits in the British banking system. With share prices plummeting following the failed vote and the numbers of new mortgages falling sharply, Mr Clegg also called for cross-party talks on how to deal with the crisis. Nick Clegg said:“We are now in the eye of an economic storm. “The financial system urgently requires some breathing space. British people need total reassurance that their savings are safe.“The Liberal Democrats will support the Government in issuing a blanket guarantee for all deposits in the British banking system. We will co-operate fully with the Government in passing depositor protection legislation next week when Parliament reconvenes. “But today a copper-bottomed guarantee that all people’s money and savings in British banks are safe must be the priority.“Then, in the longer term, all parties must work together to find common solutions for a re-regulation of the City. “We have seen the dreadful effects of the bonus culture in the City that has led banks to take unacceptable risks for short-term gain ahead of long-term stability.“If we are going to reverse the greedy banking culture that went on for too long, we need to start at the top. This means an end to all bonuses for boards of directors in British banks that do so much to fuel short-term speculation. Giving them salaries, if necessary very generous ones, will create fewer risks in the future.”

Mon 29th Sep 2008:

Vince Cable: Osborne playing a hopeless game of catch up.

Vince Cable today accused his Tory counterpart George Osborne of “playing a hopeless game of catch up” over the financial crisis.The Conservative frontbencher addressed his party conference today to set out his economic proposals, which included a proposal to freeze council tax rises for two years.Dr Cable said: “Rather than making tough economic choices over tax and spending, George Osborne is simply passing the buck to local councils, expecting them to make arbitrary cuts. “This false promise of freezing council tax will be entirely dependent on individual councils being able to cut their budgets, which is likely to leave the poorest areas with continuing council tax rises.”Dr Cable also criticised Mr Osborne’s “vague aspiration of national tax cuts at some point in the future”.He added: “This country needs a party that is willing to take the tough choices today to reduce the tax burden for people on low and middle incomes hit hardest by the financial crisis.”

Fri 26th Sep 2008:

No Choice but Change for Britain’s defence policy .

Today Sir Menzies Campbell will publish a report into the state of the ‘military covenant’ and Britain’s defence policy. The report, commissioned by Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg, sets out the tough choices required if the ‘military covenant’ is to be honoured. Sir Menzies argues that unless defence strategy is fundamentally overhauled with a new Strategic Security and Defence Review, military personnel will continue to suffer from the strains of over-commitment and inadequate equipment. The four broad options Sir Menzies sets out are: Carry on Regardless - continue to base defence policy on the strategic assumptions of the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), without the financial commitment to address shortfalls in the equipment budget. This will lead to a slow decline in capability and in Britain’s standing and influence in the world. Do Everything and Do it Properly - fund the assumptions of the 1998 SDR properly to maintain both expeditionary and large scale war fighting capability. This would require significant net spending increases for the Defence Budget. Roll Back –replace the expeditionary strategy with one of strict regional defence contributing to NATO and European defence assets for the purposes of protecting the region from direct attack. Such an option would be unpopular with allies and would diminish Britain’s influence in the world. Focus on the Wars of Today – prioritise expeditionary and peacekeeping missions over full-spectrum war fighting capabilities. This would see prioritisation of armoured vehicles, helicopters, strategic lift and intelligence gathering technology over large scale procurement such as fighter jets, aircraft carriers, and submarines. Reliance on NATO and EU capabilities would increase. Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “Menzies Campbell has produced an authoritative report that poses all the right questions which the Government has ducked for so long. We cannot continue to ask so much of our armed forces without a long-term defence strategy that is sustainable.” Sir Menzies Campbell MP said: “Our military has been ‘running hot’ for years; its budget is in crisis and there are huge deficiencies in the quality, quantity and utility of the military equipment available for operations.”“Our armed forces are qualitatively second to none in the world. They do a phenomenal job for our country every day, without challenging the wisdom of their deployment, but there are now tough choices to be made”“We have come to a point where there is no choice but change. Either our armed forces should do less and differently, or we need increases in the defence budget which will be difficult to justify to tax-payers.”

Thu 25th Sep 2008:

ID cards a 'laminated poll tax'.

Today’s unveiling of the design for ID cards is another step towards the Government’s creation of a ‘laminated poll tax’, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne, said today.The Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed ID cards, which are being introduced by the Labour Party and were initially supported by the Conservatives. Nick Clegg has already said that he will break the law and refuse to provide his details to the ID Card database rather than sign up for the scheme. Commenting on the new design revealed today, Chris Huhne said: "It does not matter how fancy the design of ID cards is, they remain a grotesque intrusion on the liberty of the British people. "The Government is using vulnerable members of our society, like foreign nationals who do not have the vote, as guinea pigs for a deeply unpopular and unworkable policy. "When voting adults are forced to carry ID cards, this scheme will prove to be a laminated Poll Tax."  

Wed 24th Sep 2008:

Darling’s mood swings back to complacency - Cable.

Commenting on Alistair Darling’s speech at the Labour conference, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "Talk about mood swings. We had a long period of complacency, followed by total despair a couple of weeks ago, only for the Chancellor to return to complacency in front of his party faithful."Vince Cable continued, saying: “The truth is that the British economy is in very serious trouble.“It is certainly true that the Government’s reaction to the HBOS crisis and short-selling has been sensible, but I’m amazed that Alistair Darling wants to take credit for management of the Northern Rock fiasco. “While I welcome the early indication of a banking reform bill to restore confidence in bank deposits, it isn’t clear that the Chancellor has understood the necessity for regulating bank capital to offset the boom and bust cycle.“Nor is it clear how the Government proposes to use legislation to deal with the problem of the bonus culture, though clearly something drastic needs to be done.“What the Chancellor doesn’t say is whether or not he plans to follow the demands from the United States administration to play Fairy Godmother to the banking system. He must make it clear that the British taxpayer is not going to bail out financial institutions in the same way here.”

Wed 17th Sep 2008:

Liberal Democrats the only party for a fairer Britain – Clegg.

The Liberal Democrats are now the only party that can deliver social justice, and the only choice for anyone who wants a fairer Britain, Nick Clegg said today in his conference speech.In his keynote conference speech, the Liberal Democrat leader also set out the party’s Fairer Future economic recovery plan – four steps to a better economic future. Nick began his speech by focusing on the current economic difficulties, which he described as 'a firestorm', "raging through our financial system, ignited by reckless bankers and fuelled by complacent politicians.” He turned his fire on both the Government and the Conservatives.Labour, he said, had nothing further to offer the country – “Stumbling around with no idea what to do.“They are a Zombie government.“A cross between Shaun of the Dead and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue.” Labour cannot help people, said Nick, and the Conservatives will not bother - “Cameron’s only aim was to make the Conservatives inoffensive.“Problem is, once you strip out the offensive parts of the Conservative party, there isn’t much left.“Cameron’s hope is to become the Andrex puppy of British politics. A cuddly symbol, perhaps. But fundamentally irrelevant to the product he’s promoting.” He accused the Conservatives of avoiding any tough policy decisions -“When it’s all “blue skies thinking” – you can say everything, no matter how contradictory.“You can say you want fairer taxes – but propose to spend billions cutting inheritance tax for the very richest in the land.“You can call for the European Union to be stronger against the Russians – while still plotting to break it in two.“You can say you’ll protect civil liberties – and then call for extra surveillance powers“You can cycle to work – and have your driver follow behind. “They are a say everything, do nothing party.” Nick said the Liberal Democrats were the party with the ideas that can get Britain out of this mess. He set out the party’s Fairer Future economic recovery plan – four steps to a better economic future. “One. Action to stop unjust repossessions before tens of thousands of families find themselves on the streets.”“Two. The free-wheeling, bonus-driven, short termism of the City must come to an end. We must stop the amoral culture that sees speculators betting on banks to fail, knowing the taxpayer will pay out in the end. And the madness of bonuses awarded no matter what.“We need a wholly new approach to regulation: limiting, not encouraging, the excesses of the market. And when reckless bankers come with gold-plated begging bowls to ask for shareholders to be bailed out. Our answer should be a resounding No. “Three. We will put in place the building blocks for future economic stability. Interest rates that take house price changes into account. And independent monitoring of our fiscal rules. “And finally – but most importantly. Tax cuts for families who are struggling. To help them make ends meet. And keep the wheels of the economy turning.”He reminded party members of  how they had pledged this week to deepen the party’s proposals for fair tax cuts, to make them fairer still –“That means doing the most for those who have the least. It means making sure the richest pay more. And so aiming to make nine out of ten taxpayers better off. “I want this to be the most progressive – most redistributive – tax plan ever put forward by a British political party. Using just a little of the money the government wastes every day. To help people in their everyday lives. “That doesn’t mean cutting help for the poorest, of course. It doesn’t mean stopping vital investment in hospitals and schools. It just means taking a cold, hard look at all government spending and asking a basic question: Is it working?”Liberal Democrats, said Nick, “believe ministers should spend money as carefully as if they’d borrowed it from a friend.“We believe that tax is a means to an end and government should not take a penny more than it needs. We believe returning money to people who need it is fair, liberal, and right.” Nick identified some of the areas where the government is wasting money, before turning to his aim of making Britain the first truly green economy in the world.“I want to see public transport expanded, with investment funded through charges on road haulage.“I want to see homes and businesses become energy efficient – saving money in the process.“And I want a huge expansion of renewable energy – meeting and exceeding the commitments Labour has given up on.” Nick spoke of the importance of achieving energy independence within the EU –“Independence because our position on the international stage is weakened by the West’s desperate hunger for fuel.“We cower in the shadow of countries we want to stand up to. Because we’re afraid they might turn off our lights. Just look at where we stand with Russia. And in the Middle East.“Dependence on fossil fuels undermines the fight for human rights. It halts the onward march of democracy. It’s got to end.” On domestic policy, Nick set out his aim of making government ‘people shaped’, with benefits shaped around the needs of people and families, not bureaucrats.Patients, he said, should have far more control over the care they get. So people with long term conditions get to be part of designing the care they need.And children struggling, or falling behind, should be helped with extra support – one-to-one tuition or catch up classes, funded by the Liberal Democrat “pupil premium” which targets extra cash at deprived children. He made clear he is also ambitious for his party, repeating his target of doubling the party’s number of MPs, and promising that at the next general election the party would take a giant leap towards that goal. “We can do it because we are the vanguard of British politics.“We have been at the forefront of a revolution in ideas.“The first to fight for women’s rights, gay rights, human rights. The first to understand the problem of climate change. The first to see the economic crisis on the horizon. The first to see the vital role of liberal interventionism in international affairs. And the first to see its limits – and oppose the illegal invasion of Iraq.” “We are a powerful party. We are getting stronger. And our ideas are the right ones to get Britain back on track.” He encouraged those people who had been drawn to Labour in the 1990s, because they believed in a better future, to turn to the Liberal Democrats as the only people who could now make it happen. “Labour is finished. It’s over.“The Liberal Democrats are now the only party that can deliver social justice.“The only choice for anyone who wants a fairer Britain. “A party that will put money back in the pockets of ordinary families.“A party that will build a stable, green economy for each and every one of us.“A party that will change politics so that every person counts. “The Liberal Democrats.“Join us, and make it happen.” Click here to read the speech in full

Liberal Democrats back plans for equality and fairness in mental health care.

The Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference today backed plans to greatly improve equality and fairness in mental health provision in the NHS.The proposals include:  The ending of mixed sex wards in mental health units An absolute prohibition on anyone below the age of 18 being placed in an adult mental health ward The application of the mental health guarantee standard to mentally ill prisoners The right to commission services outside the NHS if an individual experiences long delays in accessing mental health treatment Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: "Mental health has long been one of the most neglected services in the NHS. "It is a condition that touches every family - one in four of us will suffer mental health problems in our lifetime. "Mental health care under Labour has been characterised by a disgraceful lack of access and poor facilities. "Only the Liberal Democrats will transform mental health services, with faster access, safer wards and genuine equality of treatment. "Mental health must no longer be this country's Cinderella service." Full text of the motion - Conference notes that, despite funding for mental health services increasing by more than £1.5 billion since 1999, those experiencing mental health problems continue to suffer unacceptable discrimination in terms of access to services and treatment. In particular, conference notes that: i)                    Mental health has been estimated to cost the UK economy £48 billion every year in loss of output and cost of treatment. ii)                   Currently there is inequity in treatment between patients with physical health needs and those with mental health needs. iii)                 As a consequence of existing funding arrangements (waiting time targets and ‘payment by results'), mental health trusts have suffered real term cuts in funding, resulting in services for some of the most vulnerable people being cut back. iv)                 There are high proportions of depression and anxiety disorder sufferers who are not in contact with services, whilst many children and adolescents with conduct disorders and eating disorders remain undiagnosed and untreated. v)                  There is a severe shortage of psychological therapists and family-oriented programmes which is compromising treatment and resulting in NICE guidelines on treatment not being met. vi)                 As a result of this, drugs are often unnecessarily prescribed to individuals who need psychological treatment, as such therapy is not available. vii)               Conditions in many inpatient mental health wards are completely unacceptable. viii)              When people with mental health needs suffer physical health conditions, outcomes are significantly worse than the average, producing dramatically shortened average life expectancy for this group. ix)                 Many people suffering from mental health problems languish in prison without appropriate, effective treatment. x)                  There are over a million people on incapacity benefit as a result of mental health needs who could be supported back into appropriate work but currently do not get access to therapies. xi)                 Mixed-sex wards and mixed wards of adults and young people under 18 still exist in mental health hospitals, despite the risks to vulnerable patients. xii)               Patient Choice does not extend to mental health services Conference believes that the fundamental principles which the National Health Service must embrace and apply in the treatment of mental health needs are: a)      Equality: those with mental health needs should receive equal treatment from the NHS to those with physical needs. b)      Fairness: everyone should be entitled to a ‘core package' of care. c)      Empowerment: individuals should be enabled to take control back over their own lives as far as possible. d)      Quality: individuals should be able to access high quality, appropriate treatment, delivered by highly trained professionals. Conference condemns the existing discrimination within the NHS. Conference therefore calls for the following, to be funded within existing overall NHS budgets: 1.      The introduction, in accordance with Policy Paper 84, Empowerment, Fairness and Quality in Health Care (2008), of an equal entitlement to treatment for all NHS patients; mental health service users would be entitled to treatment within the condition-specific maximum waiting time by 2012, failing which they would be guaranteed access to treatment paid for privately by the NHS.  As a ‘cinderella service', waiting times are currently unacceptably long and Liberal Democrats are committed to ensuring that mental health services are resourced, organized and prioritized to make sure that no waiting time for treatment is longer than three months. 2.      Personal care budgets to be granted to those patients who are able to make informed choices. 3.      The introduction of the patient contract for those with mental health needs, as laid out in Policy Paper 84, Empowerment, Fairness and Quality in Health Care. 4.      Independent Patient Advocates, providing information, guidance and support to both mental health patients and carers. 5.      The ending of mixed sex wards in mental health units. 6.      An absolute prohibition on anyone below the age of 18 being placed on an adult mental health ward. 7.      Extra investment in clinician and practitioner capacity to ensure high-quality and effective services for both individuals and families. 8.      Additional investment in mental health infrastructure in order to ensure appropriate and modern facilities for all patients. 9.      The provision of extra capacity in mental health intensive care and forensic units to divert people in need of treatment away from prison and to assist those already in prison. 10.  The application of the mental health guarantee standard to mentally ill prisoners. 11.  A review of the basis on which NICE arrives at its judgments on the cost-effectiveness of treatments, aiming to arrive at a new system assessing costs and benefits as widely and as objectively as possible to try and capture in an equitable way the wider costs to the individual, carers and the economy of mental health conditions. 12.  The introduction of effective financial incentives for Job Centre Plus and the NHS to ensure the provision of treatment assisting those on incapacity benefit back into appropriate work. 13.  Employment support providers to be given the right to commission services outside the NHS if an individual experiences long delays in accessing mental health treatment.

International trade - conference demands action.

The Liberal Democrats have passed an emergency motion in response to the collapse of world trade negotiations.The motion, which was supported by the party's Shadow Secretary for Business, Sarah Teather MP, calls for a fundamental reappraisal of the role of the World Trade Organisation. The party is proposing a number of actions to make world trade rules more friendly to the twin goals of development and the environment. These include a call for developed countries to proceed with the reductions in agricultural subsidies they had offered during the Doha trade negotiations, and for much greater investment in ‘aid for trade' assistance to the poorest developing countries, helping them to open up their economies to international trade without suffering excessive disruption. Full text of the motion as passed (unamended) Proposed by Streatham local party   Mover: Duncan Brack Summation: Sarah Teather MP (Shadow Secretary of State for BERR) Conference notes the collapse of talks amongst trade ministers on 29 July, which seem likely to mark the end of attempts to reach a conclusion to the WTO Doha Round of trade negotiations. Conference further notes that the failure to reach agreement was largely due to the inflexibility of developed countries, in particular the US, in negotiating over safeguards mechanisms for developing countries. While regretting the failure of the Doha Round to reach a successful conclusion, conference also recognises that the international trading system overseen by the WTO is insufficiently sensitive both to the needs of developing countries (particularly the poorest) and to the urgent need to integrate environmental costs and benefits into economic decisions. Conference therefore calls for a fundamental reappraisal of the role of the WTO and its trade agreements in promoting environmentally sustainable development, including, if necessary, the launch of a new and more development- and environment-friendly set of negotiations. Conference further calls for specific actions to promote environmentally sustainable development, including: 1. Developed countries to proceed with the reductions in agricultural subsidies they had offered during the negotiations. 2. Much greater investment in ‘aid for trade' assistance to the poorest developing countries, helping them to open up their economies to international trade without suffering excessive disruption. 3. The establishment of an International Leapfrog Fund to facilitate the development of lowcarbon technologies, energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in developing countries, and of a new UN Adaptation Fund, helping poor countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. 4. Urgent action to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015.

Liberal Democrats back plans to safeguard personal freedom and privacy.

The Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference today passed plans to safeguard personal liberty and privacy in the face of unprecedented collection of personal data by central Government, and a number of large-scale failures of data protection.Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Scotland Secretary, Michael Moore said:“With an increasingly authoritarian UK Government bent on building up ever-larger amounts of personal information, the protection of individual freedom and privacy has never been such an important cause.“These proposals will ensure that there is a much higher level of protection for people’s personal data.“Along with the rest of the UK, Scotland has seen shocking lapses in data protection in recent months. These have been presided over by a centralising SNP Government which has done too little to ensure people’s privacy is protected.“The SNP must promise that any ID cards brought in by the UK Government will not be required to access any of the public services under Holyrood’s control. “Unless they can maintain this pledge, championed by the Liberal Democrats in government in Scotland, their talk of civil liberties and data protection is little more than empty rhetoric.” The motion passed by conference can be found here

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