In a speech to the CPRE on 14th November, Liberal Democrt Leader Nick Clegg set out the Liberal Democrat plan to make rural communities accessible, vibrant and green.
He announced that the Liberal Democrats would scrap regional planning targets for new homes from Whitehall, as well as national targets. He explained that regional housing targets aren't delivering the housing people need, and that we want to let local authorities, in consultation with local people, decide on the housing their communities need.
Rural communities need more affordable housing, more social housing, he said and added that villages risk becoming gated communities for the rich and the retired, unless local housing needs are met.
He warned that the recession will create two-tier rural communities, making the current crisis wore for rural housing and services unless we take immediate action. Recession means tougher times for rural communities and tougher decisions on how we use land.
Liberal Democrats ant to make rural communities -
Accessible: Empowering local authorities to build more social housing and scrapping national targets to tackle the rural housing crisis. Rural communities should be accessible. The most stunning parts of our country should not be the enclaves of the rich and retired. They should be communities for everyone.
Vibrant: Fulfilling the economic potential of rural areas by encouraging communities to support local produce. Our countryside should be vibrant. Villages and towns should not be denied vital services. Rural enterprise, jobs and prosperity should be encouraged to flourish.
Green: Strengthening his commitment to the environment based on the premise that land is intrinsically valuable. Our plans for land must always be green. Fixing the economy must never come at the expense of protecting the environment. The two must go hand in hand.
Tuesday 18 November 2008
Monday 3 November 2008
KEY MESSAGES ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY
1. Cutting taxes for struggling families so you’ve got more money in your pocket.
The Liberal Democrats will cut taxes for people on low and middle incomes, raising them for the richest so the tax cuts are affordable. We will fund this by ending upper rate tax relief on pensions, clamping down on tax avoidance, harmonising income and capital gains taxes, increasing green taxation and trimming overall central public spending. These proposals would not increase the government fiscal deficit; that means they are affordable now. This tax cut is now urgent to get money to people who are struggling the most, helping them to pay for essentials and keep spending money in the high street.
2. Lowering energy bills so you can afford to keep warm this winter.
As wholesale fuel prices fall – they have dropped 28% since August – utility companies must lower people’s bills too. Millions of people face a winter unable to heat their homes: 4 out of 5 single pensioners will be in fuel poverty this winter. Energy companies must pass on wholesale price cuts. We’ll also change billing rules so the first units of energy you use are no longer the most expensive. Essential energy should be the cheapest, while bigger users pay more. This is fairer, and will help the environment. Finally, those energy companies that received a £9bn subsidy from the European Emissions Trading Scheme must invest in lower tariffs for vulnerable customers and providing comprehensive insulation for everyone.
3. Keeping people in their homes, so you don’t need to fear unfair repossessions.
We must ensure that banks only ever repossess people’s homes as a last resort. Liberal Democrats will instruct the courts to make sure banks don’t repossess unless they’ve already offered free independent financial advice, and pursued all alternatives like renegotiating the terms of the mortgage and offering a shared equity agreement.
We already have nearly two million families on housing waiting lists. We can help those families and prevent a homelessness crisis by allowing councils and housing associations to buy up unsold properties and land from building companies. This will replenish our social housing stock, stimulate the house building industry and provide homes now for people who need them.
4. Lower mortgage payments and cheaper business loans through big interest rate cuts.
People and businesses need help paying off their mortgages and loans, so we need substantially lower interest rates. The UK still has higher official interest rates than the EU (4.5% compared to 3.75%) and dramatically higher rates than the US (1.5%). This makes it much harder for people to pay their mortgages, makes it harder for business to survive and slows the economy down. The Bank of England must remain independent, but at this time of emergency its remit must be changed to make interest rates fall dramatically and swiftly. This should be part of international action to cut rates across all major economies.
The Liberal Democrats will cut taxes for people on low and middle incomes, raising them for the richest so the tax cuts are affordable. We will fund this by ending upper rate tax relief on pensions, clamping down on tax avoidance, harmonising income and capital gains taxes, increasing green taxation and trimming overall central public spending. These proposals would not increase the government fiscal deficit; that means they are affordable now. This tax cut is now urgent to get money to people who are struggling the most, helping them to pay for essentials and keep spending money in the high street.
2. Lowering energy bills so you can afford to keep warm this winter.
As wholesale fuel prices fall – they have dropped 28% since August – utility companies must lower people’s bills too. Millions of people face a winter unable to heat their homes: 4 out of 5 single pensioners will be in fuel poverty this winter. Energy companies must pass on wholesale price cuts. We’ll also change billing rules so the first units of energy you use are no longer the most expensive. Essential energy should be the cheapest, while bigger users pay more. This is fairer, and will help the environment. Finally, those energy companies that received a £9bn subsidy from the European Emissions Trading Scheme must invest in lower tariffs for vulnerable customers and providing comprehensive insulation for everyone.
3. Keeping people in their homes, so you don’t need to fear unfair repossessions.
We must ensure that banks only ever repossess people’s homes as a last resort. Liberal Democrats will instruct the courts to make sure banks don’t repossess unless they’ve already offered free independent financial advice, and pursued all alternatives like renegotiating the terms of the mortgage and offering a shared equity agreement.
We already have nearly two million families on housing waiting lists. We can help those families and prevent a homelessness crisis by allowing councils and housing associations to buy up unsold properties and land from building companies. This will replenish our social housing stock, stimulate the house building industry and provide homes now for people who need them.
4. Lower mortgage payments and cheaper business loans through big interest rate cuts.
People and businesses need help paying off their mortgages and loans, so we need substantially lower interest rates. The UK still has higher official interest rates than the EU (4.5% compared to 3.75%) and dramatically higher rates than the US (1.5%). This makes it much harder for people to pay their mortgages, makes it harder for business to survive and slows the economy down. The Bank of England must remain independent, but at this time of emergency its remit must be changed to make interest rates fall dramatically and swiftly. This should be part of international action to cut rates across all major economies.
SMALL BUSINESSES ACTION PLAN
LIBERAL Democrats in Witney have backed plans to help small businesses survive the looming recession. The plan by the party to boost businesses was launched by leader Nick Clegg and the party’s Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable. The plan includes:
1. A substantial cut in interest rates to lower the cost of loans and investment;
2. Immediately overhauling the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme to improve government support for business loans;
3. Banks which receive government financial assistance adopting a new code of conduct on rearranging business credit and overdrafts;
3. Developing with energy companies an assistance package for small businesses struggling with high energy bills
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy in Witney. It is vital that we give them a fighting chance to get through the recession. The government has given a massive bailout to the banks but ministers must now look at the bigger economy. Small businesses here and throughout the country generally, are suffering from the downturn. Profits are being squeezed and jobs are at risk.
A big cut in interest rates will be a big boost to many local businesses and could mean the difference between staying open or closing down. Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have taken the lead with their plan to help businesses.
1. A substantial cut in interest rates to lower the cost of loans and investment;
2. Immediately overhauling the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme to improve government support for business loans;
3. Banks which receive government financial assistance adopting a new code of conduct on rearranging business credit and overdrafts;
3. Developing with energy companies an assistance package for small businesses struggling with high energy bills
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy in Witney. It is vital that we give them a fighting chance to get through the recession. The government has given a massive bailout to the banks but ministers must now look at the bigger economy. Small businesses here and throughout the country generally, are suffering from the downturn. Profits are being squeezed and jobs are at risk.
A big cut in interest rates will be a big boost to many local businesses and could mean the difference between staying open or closing down. Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have taken the lead with their plan to help businesses.
Liberal Democrats propose Economic Recovery Plan
Gordon Brown’s proposals to deal with the economic slowdown are too little too late. The Liberal Democrats have published their own package of proposals designed to help people left struggling by the credit crunch. The measures include tax cuts for low and middle income households, stopping unnecessary repossessions, action to cut energy bills and moves to stop reckless banks jeopardising economic security.
Key points of the Lib Dem Fairer Future Economic Recovery Plan
1. Put more money in people’s pockets - tax cuts for people on low and middle incomes
2. Stop unnecessary home repossessions and provide more affordable housing
3. Make energy companies reinvest their windfall profits in cutting bills
4. Extra help for people in debt or who lose their jobs
5. Tough new rules to limit the excesses of the City
Key points of the Lib Dem Fairer Future Economic Recovery Plan
1. Put more money in people’s pockets - tax cuts for people on low and middle incomes
2. Stop unnecessary home repossessions and provide more affordable housing
3. Make energy companies reinvest their windfall profits in cutting bills
4. Extra help for people in debt or who lose their jobs
5. Tough new rules to limit the excesses of the City
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