Lib Dems Challenge Conservatives On Economy (Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats)

Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats <info@twlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems Challenge Conservatives On Economy

September 27, 2008 12:07 PM

David Cameron - Tories finished in Scotland

It seems that the Conservatives are either clueless about how to solve the economic problems or have policies that they want to keep hidden.

Liberal Democrats have thrown down the gauntlet to the Conservatives on the eve of their conference by demanding answers to questions about the economy.

With the credit crunch biting hard, residents in Tunbridge Wells have a right to know what the Conservatives would do to restore the economy to health.

If the Conservatives want people to vote for them, they should tell them what they are letting themselves in for. It seems that the Conservatives are either clueless about how to solve the economic problems or have policies that they want to keep hidden.

Therefore the Lib Dems are challenging the Conservatives to tell us where they stand on the big issues facing local residents.

We are calling for answers to the following:

1. Will the Conservatives make the richest pay their fair share of tax?

The only tax proposals announced by the Conservatives are to cut Inheritance Tax for millionaires, abolish Stamp Duty on shares and introduce a marriage-based tax system which would penalise widows, those escaping domestic violence and anyone else who is not married.

2. What do the Conservatives mean by sharing the proceeds of growth, and how will they do it in a recession?

3. Why have the Conservatives nothing to say about council and other social housing?

The Conservatives brought council house building effectively to an end when they were last in government. Now council housing is badly needed but the Conservatives have been silent about this.

4. Do the Conservatives now admit they got it wrong on Northern Rock?

The Conservatives failed to see the Northern Rock fiasco coming. When it did arrive they kept changing their position on how to deal with it. Now that other banks are facing difficulties will they continue to oppose state ownership on ideological grounds?

5. Why did the Conservatives ignore the dangerous boom in lending and house prices?

Whilst the Government let the boom in credit get out of control, the Conservatives sat idly by. Now that the housing bubble has burst, the Conservatives are happy to make political capital. Their frontbencher Andrew Mitchell MP said that the economic problems besetting the country have created 'an incredibly good moment' for the Conservatives. How can taxpayers believe they will do anything to tackle the problem were they in government? (Source: ePolitix.com 26/9/08)

So far the Conservatives have failed to tackle any of the big issues facing families today.

Their empty words have got them through until now, but they are no substitute for actual proposals when it comes to tackling the serious problems facing our economy. The Conservatives must stop dodging the tough choices if they really want to establish any economic credibility with voters.