A brief note, reflecting on the criteria by which I proposed we should judge the budget, now it has sunk in:
What is the timescale? 5 years, so this is a clear Conservative victory. I am deeply concerned about this, possibly more than anything else, because I think it will damage growth over the next [...]
Regardless of what Liberal Democrats might like the budget to be tomorrow, we always knew it was going to be a compromise between the Lib Dems and Conservatives in government. The Parliamentary arithmetic always meant that the Lib Dems’ game plan in coalition was restraining the Tories rather than getting them to abandon their [...]
Crossposted from Quaequam Blog!
As the implications of what it appears that the coalition is about to do in the upcoming budget sinks in, I have to admit to growing increasingly concerned. No-one – outside of the Labour leadership contest anyway – denies that the structural deficit needs to be tackled or that we don’t [...]
Crossposted from the Social Liberal Forum social network.
The deadline for autumn conference motions is looming (30 June to be precise), so we don’t have much time. But what should the Social Liberal Forum be championing to get onto the agenda? Here are some ideas:
Secondary education – academies and free schools in [...]
Following on from the Social Liberal Forum’s open letter to Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander about the emergency budget, three prominent Liberal Democrat parliamentarians have echoed our concern on Capital Gains Tax.
The FT reports that Lord Oakeshott, Malcolm Bruce and new Lib Dem Deputy Leader Simon Hughes also advising Nick Clegg not to capitulate.
Simon Hughes [...]
Following our mini-consultation a few days ago, we have written the following letter to Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander outlining our concerns about the upcoming Emergency Budget. Thanks to everyone who submitted their ideas, both on our website and privately by email.
To: Nick Clegg, Danny Alexander
cc. Simon Hughes
Dear Nick and Danny,
Next week, the coalition [...]
David Hall-Matthews’ speech on Motion “Growth that lasts: A fair, green and sustainable economy.”
Conference, I am speaking in favour of lines 22-23: “a fair and sustainable economy means delivering growth that lasts, through… honesty about the tough choices needed to cut the deficit and put the public finances back in order without damaging vital public [...]
Not having decent internet access over the weekend at Lib Dem conference, I’ve been itching to get my paws on the latest Left Foot Forward report on the Lib Dem proposal to raise the income tax threshold to £10,000. “Think Again, Nick!” (pdf) purports to show that, far from being the most redistributive policy [...]
The Social Liberal Forum believes Nick Clegg’s newly promulgated policy to rely on spending cuts raises serious questions.
We believe that this policy has to take into account the following issues:
It could require even deeper cuts in areas like affordable housing, schools and universities that are central for either the growth potential of our economy or [...]
I want to support the new campaign for a “Robin Hood Tax” – really I do. I understand the logic behind the Tobin Tax and have a lot of sympathy for the idea. But there’s something about this campaign… Actually, there are four problems I have with it:
Firstly, the name “Robin Hood [...]
The Social Liberal Forum exists to foster debate within and beyond the Liberal Democrats, with the aim of developing social liberal solutions and approaches which reflect these principles and which find popular support.
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