Clegg faces dissent over tax cuts
Clegg is facing dissent from party members today who will challenge him over his proposed tax policy
Dissenting Liberal Democrat members will today challenge Nick Clegg over his
key manifesto to only deliver tax cuts if there were money left after ?20bn
government expenditure.
Party opponents fear plans to find tax savings will take the party towards
the right and away from their centre-left traditions, a charge Clegg fiercely
denies, according to
Reuters.
Clegg told the gathering of delegates in Bournemouth at the party’s autumn
conference yesterday, that about ?20bn, or 3%, of budget spending would be
reassigned to priorities such as like schools and mental health care and tax
cuts would be introduced only if there was money left over.
In a question and answer session at yesterday’s conference, Clegg wanted his
plan to be described as ‘redirecting’ public expenditure, rather than cutting
it.