Today the Liberal Democrats are launching our new proposals for tackling inequality and environmental damage by reforming the tax system. I believe that these proposals are the most progressgive launched by any party in recent history. They are the result of 12 months work by the party's Tax Commission set up by the Federal Policy committee, made up of a cross section of the party members.
The commission was asked to look at ways of reforming the tax system to make it fairer, simpler and greener. I believe we have achieved all three of these goals and put together credible and balanced package that we can campaign on and will be popular with voters.
our proposals would lift two million people on low incomes out of direct tax altogether. We would reduce the burden on millions of households and individuals on middle incomes.
Compared with our policy at the last general election of a 50p rate on earnings over £100,000 , which raised approx £5 billion a year our new proposals envisage an annual tax switch of £18 billion - without the need to raise taxation overall. We would raise the money by scrapping tax breaks for the very rich such as their pension contribution relief and capital gains tax relief, and by increasing green taxes so that polluters pay the price for degrading the environment.
FAIRNESS LIES AT THE HEART OF OUR TAX PROPOSALS
Our £18 billion tax switch comes on top of our pledge to scrap the unfair and unpopular council Tax and replace it with the local income tax based on ability to pay.
The current system of taxations is not fair. The bottom 20% of households pay proportionately more of their income in tax than the richest 20%. There has also been a marked increase in wealth inequality since Labour came to power.
Despite the rhetoric, levels of green taxtion unde Labour have been falling and these taxes are failing to achieve substantial behaviour change. The conservatives talk about the environment but aren't willing to mkae the tough choices necessary.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE BIGGEST THREAT WE FACE.
Therefore, central to our new proposals is an £8 billion emphasis on green taxes. this is designed to encourage cleaner, greener travel and living and discourage pollution and environmental damage.
Gordon Brown has built up a vastly complicated tax system that puts an onerous burden on individuals and buinesses alike. We propose to make the tax system simpler, remvoing complex reliefs and cutting the number of tax rates rates.
And we would make it more transparent and predictable so that businesses can plan for the long-term.
Our package will radically shift tax and spending priorities while maintaining financial responsiblity.
The plans will be debated at the Liberal Democrats Conferencein September in Brighton and your local party representatives will be casting their votes on them.
I am eager to receive your comments which can be emailed to tax@libdemos.org.uk
I am looking forward to the debate at conference but if you want more information , you can find the full tax proposals on our website
Vince Cable MP
Liberal Democrate Shadow Chancellor
Monday, August 14, 2006
PROTECT INNOCENT PEOPLE'S DNA
Five times more people in the UK have their DNA records stored on central government records than in any other countury in the world. Now DNA records do have a key role in the fight against crime - but that doesn't somehow mean that anything at all done with DNA records is therefore OK.
And there are some tough questions for Labour to answer about why they've built up DNA records far, far in excess of what is needed to help fight crime in other countries.
Questions like;
Why should the DNA records of innoncent people be kept indefinitely?
How secure really are the records? (The Observer recently pointed out that private firms have secretly been keeping DNA records that should have been destroyed - see http;//obeserver.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1821676,00.html).
Where are the proper safeguards against mis-use of the data?
And what is the explanation for a quarter of the DNA records being from members of the ethnic minorities whilst they only make up under one in ten of the overall population , is there really no racial discrimination going on?
That's why last week I launced a petition with Nick /clegg, our Shadow /home Secretary, against this over the top database. Agreeing that DNA has an important role to play in fighting crime doesn't justify keeping the DNA records for innoncent people indefinitely and without proper safeguards
you can sign our petition at http;//campaigns.libdems.org.uk/dna
Lynne Featherstone
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs
And there are some tough questions for Labour to answer about why they've built up DNA records far, far in excess of what is needed to help fight crime in other countries.
Questions like;
Why should the DNA records of innoncent people be kept indefinitely?
How secure really are the records? (The Observer recently pointed out that private firms have secretly been keeping DNA records that should have been destroyed - see http;//obeserver.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1821676,00.html).
Where are the proper safeguards against mis-use of the data?
And what is the explanation for a quarter of the DNA records being from members of the ethnic minorities whilst they only make up under one in ten of the overall population , is there really no racial discrimination going on?
That's why last week I launced a petition with Nick /clegg, our Shadow /home Secretary, against this over the top database. Agreeing that DNA has an important role to play in fighting crime doesn't justify keeping the DNA records for innoncent people indefinitely and without proper safeguards
you can sign our petition at http;//campaigns.libdems.org.uk/dna
Lynne Featherstone
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs
AXE THE TAX
It is only a few months ago when our Council Tax Bills landed on the mat!
For many the arrival of this bill was most unwelcome. Of course, nobody likes paying tax, but the Council tax, because it has no link with people's ability to pay is the most unfair and the most unpopular.
In around four or five months time, when Sir Michael Lyons, who was appointed by the Government to reveiw and make recommendations about Local government Finance, published his report, there may be a golden opportunity to get the Council Tax scrapped.
It is for this reason that this summer we are re-launching our campaign to Axe the Council Tax. The campaign will run until October when we will present the Axe the Tax petition to the Secretary of State for communitities and Local Government.
You can help us by signing the petition on-line, getting your friends to sign or collecting signatures on your own petition.
To find out more about the campaign, to print off a copy of the petition etc see our new website, still at http//www.axethetax.org.uk
Tom Brake MP
Shadow Minister for Local Government
For many the arrival of this bill was most unwelcome. Of course, nobody likes paying tax, but the Council tax, because it has no link with people's ability to pay is the most unfair and the most unpopular.
In around four or five months time, when Sir Michael Lyons, who was appointed by the Government to reveiw and make recommendations about Local government Finance, published his report, there may be a golden opportunity to get the Council Tax scrapped.
It is for this reason that this summer we are re-launching our campaign to Axe the Council Tax. The campaign will run until October when we will present the Axe the Tax petition to the Secretary of State for communitities and Local Government.
You can help us by signing the petition on-line, getting your friends to sign or collecting signatures on your own petition.
To find out more about the campaign, to print off a copy of the petition etc see our new website, still at http//www.axethetax.org.uk
Tom Brake MP
Shadow Minister for Local Government
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
IT COULD BE YOU!!
Could you be our next Cllr,AM, MP or MEP?
With National Assembly elections next year, local Council elections in 2008 , European Elections in 2009 and a General Election that can happen whenever Mr Blair feels like it, the Welsh Lib Dems are launching a drive to find more candidates.
Could you be our next AM or local Councillor for your area?
That's the question we'd like you to think about - and if you are interested, then get in touch.
You don't need to be an expert in policy, and you don't need to be a campaign guru - in fact there's very little you really need other than the desire to represent your area and the determination to win!
Of course you do neeed to know some policy and hoW to campaing, but we can help you learn these things through training and development support.
There are also organisations within the party that provide help and support to candidates.
So where do you find out more?
Your first port of call should be the Welsh lib Dem office, who should be able to answer any initial queries and put you in touch with someone who can help you. They're on 029 2031 3400 or email candidates@welshlibdems.org.uk.
You may also find the following websites useful. http://reflectingbritain.org.uk, http://www.gbtf.org.uk
Rule changes allows younger candidates from 2007 onwards....
Changes to rules governing who can stand for election mean that from 2007 onwards you only have to be 18 rather than 21 as previously to be a candidate at any election.
So that means even more people could stand as a Welsh Lib Dem candidate. As ever, contact the office if you'd like to find out more.
WELSH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS - STANDING UP FOR WALES
With National Assembly elections next year, local Council elections in 2008 , European Elections in 2009 and a General Election that can happen whenever Mr Blair feels like it, the Welsh Lib Dems are launching a drive to find more candidates.
Could you be our next AM or local Councillor for your area?
That's the question we'd like you to think about - and if you are interested, then get in touch.
You don't need to be an expert in policy, and you don't need to be a campaign guru - in fact there's very little you really need other than the desire to represent your area and the determination to win!
Of course you do neeed to know some policy and hoW to campaing, but we can help you learn these things through training and development support.
There are also organisations within the party that provide help and support to candidates.
So where do you find out more?
Your first port of call should be the Welsh lib Dem office, who should be able to answer any initial queries and put you in touch with someone who can help you. They're on 029 2031 3400 or email candidates@welshlibdems.org.uk.
You may also find the following websites useful. http://reflectingbritain.org.uk, http://www.gbtf.org.uk
Rule changes allows younger candidates from 2007 onwards....
Changes to rules governing who can stand for election mean that from 2007 onwards you only have to be 18 rather than 21 as previously to be a candidate at any election.
So that means even more people could stand as a Welsh Lib Dem candidate. As ever, contact the office if you'd like to find out more.
WELSH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS - STANDING UP FOR WALES
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