The Liberal Democrats have backed party leader Nick Clegg's attempt to cut taxes for "lower- and middle-income families". In the most intense debate of the conference so far delegates examined a question at the heart of the party's policy: whether they should put Lib Dem spending commitments or tax cuts first. Backing for classing cuts as a "lower priority" by frontbencher Evan Harris, who holds the science portfolio, attracted no more than one-third of votes. The overall "vision and values" motion on the Make It Happen paper was overwhelmingly carried. The outcome was not obvious from the clear divisions on show during the debate. Members of the parliamentary party spoke passionately against each other's arguments and contradictory statements received applause in equal measure. With leader Nick Clegg looking on from the front row, Treasury spokesperson Vince Cable said he was presenting a "concept" and a "philosophy" to the conference rather than a concrete policy commitment. Party president Simon Hughes backed his point about flexibility up. "Things change quickly," he argued, before insisting "we absolutely cannot make decisions today for 12 or 18 months hence". This was rejected by Duncan Brack, the man in charge of the smooth running of the conference. "Whatever you think of the idea, this is no way to make policy," he said to applause. In previous elections, Mr Brack added, "we costed our manifestoes as carefully as we could… I don't know why we've dropped this approach". Dr Harris, who earlier in the day told politics.co.uk he was merely trying to "clarify" what Mr Clegg was saying, cited contradictory quotes from his party leader to prove his point. In an interview with the Telegraph, he said, Mr Clegg said he planned guaranteed tax cuts. But in the question-and-answer session yesterday these would only take place if spending priorities were first met. "Is there another marauding Clegg twin?" he asked. "Let's have a simple message." Critics of the Make It Happen paper said it represented a fundamental shift to the right, taking the Lib Dems away from their position as a party of fairness and into Conservative territory. But senior party figures argued the move was consistent with the party's values because it shifted money towards the most vulnerable. Home affairs spokesperson Chris Huhne said allegations of a move towards traditional economic liberalism were "nonsense". "It's not a shift to the right to make our taxes fairer," he said.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Lib Dems back cuts in tax tussle
Nick Clegg is trying to take his party in a new direction
The Liberal Democrats have backed party leader Nick Clegg's attempt to cut taxes for "lower- and middle-income families". In the most intense debate of the conference so far delegates examined a question at the heart of the party's policy: whether they should put Lib Dem spending commitments or tax cuts first. Backing for classing cuts as a "lower priority" by frontbencher Evan Harris, who holds the science portfolio, attracted no more than one-third of votes. The overall "vision and values" motion on the Make It Happen paper was overwhelmingly carried. The outcome was not obvious from the clear divisions on show during the debate. Members of the parliamentary party spoke passionately against each other's arguments and contradictory statements received applause in equal measure. With leader Nick Clegg looking on from the front row, Treasury spokesperson Vince Cable said he was presenting a "concept" and a "philosophy" to the conference rather than a concrete policy commitment. Party president Simon Hughes backed his point about flexibility up. "Things change quickly," he argued, before insisting "we absolutely cannot make decisions today for 12 or 18 months hence". This was rejected by Duncan Brack, the man in charge of the smooth running of the conference. "Whatever you think of the idea, this is no way to make policy," he said to applause. In previous elections, Mr Brack added, "we costed our manifestoes as carefully as we could… I don't know why we've dropped this approach". Dr Harris, who earlier in the day told politics.co.uk he was merely trying to "clarify" what Mr Clegg was saying, cited contradictory quotes from his party leader to prove his point. In an interview with the Telegraph, he said, Mr Clegg said he planned guaranteed tax cuts. But in the question-and-answer session yesterday these would only take place if spending priorities were first met. "Is there another marauding Clegg twin?" he asked. "Let's have a simple message." Critics of the Make It Happen paper said it represented a fundamental shift to the right, taking the Lib Dems away from their position as a party of fairness and into Conservative territory. But senior party figures argued the move was consistent with the party's values because it shifted money towards the most vulnerable. Home affairs spokesperson Chris Huhne said allegations of a move towards traditional economic liberalism were "nonsense". "It's not a shift to the right to make our taxes fairer," he said.
Job One for McCain or Obama: Jobs Clegg seeking tax cuts before conference
The Liberal Democrats have backed party leader Nick Clegg's attempt to cut taxes for "lower- and middle-income families". In the most intense debate of the conference so far delegates examined a question at the heart of the party's policy: whether they should put Lib Dem spending commitments or tax cuts first. Backing for classing cuts as a "lower priority" by frontbencher Evan Harris, who holds the science portfolio, attracted no more than one-third of votes. The overall "vision and values" motion on the Make It Happen paper was overwhelmingly carried. The outcome was not obvious from the clear divisions on show during the debate. Members of the parliamentary party spoke passionately against each other's arguments and contradictory statements received applause in equal measure. With leader Nick Clegg looking on from the front row, Treasury spokesperson Vince Cable said he was presenting a "concept" and a "philosophy" to the conference rather than a concrete policy commitment. Party president Simon Hughes backed his point about flexibility up. "Things change quickly," he argued, before insisting "we absolutely cannot make decisions today for 12 or 18 months hence". This was rejected by Duncan Brack, the man in charge of the smooth running of the conference. "Whatever you think of the idea, this is no way to make policy," he said to applause. In previous elections, Mr Brack added, "we costed our manifestoes as carefully as we could… I don't know why we've dropped this approach". Dr Harris, who earlier in the day told politics.co.uk he was merely trying to "clarify" what Mr Clegg was saying, cited contradictory quotes from his party leader to prove his point. In an interview with the Telegraph, he said, Mr Clegg said he planned guaranteed tax cuts. But in the question-and-answer session yesterday these would only take place if spending priorities were first met. "Is there another marauding Clegg twin?" he asked. "Let's have a simple message." Critics of the Make It Happen paper said it represented a fundamental shift to the right, taking the Lib Dems away from their position as a party of fairness and into Conservative territory. But senior party figures argued the move was consistent with the party's values because it shifted money towards the most vulnerable. Home affairs spokesperson Chris Huhne said allegations of a move towards traditional economic liberalism were "nonsense". "It's not a shift to the right to make our taxes fairer," he said.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment