Surrey County Council Lib Dems

£10m to boost literacy - Clegg

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced on Monday that there will be up to £10m additional support for Pupil Premium children who leave primary school without Level 4 literacy - the expected level.

In a keynote speech to teachers and school leaders, he said that the Education Endowment Foundation will be awarding the money to pilot projects to help disadvantaged pupils make the transition from primary to secondary school. The money will be targeted at struggling Year 7s from deprived homes.

"How can a child start secondary school unable to read with confidence?" declared Nick. "That is a basic building block of a good education and no child should begin the race so far behind the starting line. We need to do everything we can to help these children through this transition to get them up to speed.
"That is a responsibility the government takes extremely seriously. And I can confirm that the Education Endowment Foundation will shortly be inviting groups of local schools, in the areas that suffer most with this problem, to bid for extra funds for struggling Year 7s from deprived homes to help them get their reading and writing up to scratch. Extra 'catch up cash', if you like.
"We envisage that schools will want to use it for small catch up classes, or one-to-one tuition, or vouchers for literacy tuition that parents can spend. We will run a proper evaluation, sharing what works with all schools not just those areas taking part in these pilots. It's likely this kind of targeted support is the best way to crack this problem - next year we'll know.
"Of course, we hope as few pupils as possible need it, thanks to the Pupil Premium. And I know primary and secondary schools up and down the country are determined to make this work.
"Some are using the money for breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. Some are funding counselling services, so troubled kids are in the right place, emotionally, to learn. Some are using it for educational visits to places like museums: the sort of experiences middle class children take for granted but poorer child might rarely enjoy."

Nick also announced that he wants to "strike a deal between the Coalition government and our schools and teachers. Teachers who help these children unlock the doors that otherwise hold them back ... they are the key to an open and fair society ... the key to the opportunity Britain I am determined we build."

The best teachers will be offered incentives to work in schools that have large numbers of disadvantaged pupils. The government will ask the School Teachers Review Body to look at giving other schools the same flexibility Academies currently have to use pay to hold on to the best teachers.

Also, from next year, there will be Pupil Premium Awards for the 50 schools that do the best to boost the performance of their poorest pupils and narrow the gap - with cash prizes of up to £10,000 for the best of the best.

Commenting, Stephen Williams said:

"This is a very popular idea which would give the public something back for bailing out the banks.

"I welcome the Treasury Select Committee's review into what to do with the Government's holding in RBS and Lloyds and hope that it furthers the case for giving the public their share."

Long lasting reforms

Key Liberal Democrat initiatives were announced in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday including banking reform, a single tier pension, energy reform, strengthening shareholder power and House of Lords reform.

The Coalition government's next term will focus on helping families, supporting growth and jobs, and delivering long-standing reform to our banking sector. Long lasting reforms are proposed to put the UK on a stable footing and offer help and support to families, small businesses and communities, protect the environment, as well as reaffirming the commitment to helping the poorest nations.

The key themes from the 2012 Queen's Speech are economic growth, justice and constitutional reform.

Main Lib Dem initiatives include:

• Banking Reform
• Single tier pension
• Shared parental leave and more help for SEN children
• Energy reform
• Social Care
• House of Lords Reform

Other Lib Dem led initiatives:

• Green Investment Bank
• Strengthening shareholder power in deciding directors' pay
• Grocery Code Adjudicator Bill - Fair trade for British famers
• Water Bill to increase competitiveness and improve efficiency
• Defamation Reform
• Reform of community sentencing

Overseas Aid

"I'm confident we have secured a good outcome for both our party and the country," said Nick Clegg. "Our challenge now is communicating our success in the Queen's Speech, as well as in this government more widely, to voters everywhere."

These reforms will help build a sustainable future for our country. The Coalition Government's plans will offer help and support to families, small businesses and communities, protect the environment, as well as reaffirming our commitment to helping the poorest nations.

In 2010, Liberal Democrats joined the Coalition Government to act in the long-term national interest. Our most urgent task was to tackle the record deficit left to us by Labour and we're continuing this work today.

We have already made some tough choices, and we will continue to make sure we keep spending down so, unlike the rest of Europe, families can benefit from low interest rates and Britain is protected from the global debt storm.

The key themes from the 2012 Queen's Speech are:

• Economic Growth
• Justice
• Constitutional reform

1. Banking Reform
This Bill reflects a longstanding record of Liberal Democrat action to reform the banking sector. It will deliver greater financial stability by finally separate retail banking, on which households and small business rely, from the more risky investment activity. This acts on the recommendations of the independent Vickers Commission. It will insulate personal finance from global financial shocks and make banks easier to resolve without taxpayer support.

2. Single Tier Pension
A flat-rate pension is simple, progressive and ensures women and low-paid workers in particular get a fair deal. Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for these reforms and they represent the most radical changes to the State Pension system in our lifetime: making it fairer and simpler for the next generation. Steve Webb's Single Tier Pension Bill achieves this by combining the basic State Pension and State Second Pension in to a single tier state pension, currently worth around £140 a week.

3. Parental Leave (Children and Families Bill)
The Coalition Government have previously announced proposals for a new system of flexible parental leave and an extended right to request flexible working. These changes are necessary to reflect modern family life but they also serve solid economic purposes. By extending an individual's ability to combine work and family life, fewer people will drop out of the labour market, losing their skills and prospects in the process.

4. Special Educational Needs (Children and Families Bill)
This will put Sarah Teather's work on improving support in schools for disabled children and children with special educational needs. The Bill will bring in a single, simple assessment procedure for 0-25 year olds. It will provide statutory protections up until 25 in further education, instead of cutting it off at 16 and give parents or young people the right to a personal budget. Lastly, it will require local authorities and health services to jointly plan and commission services for children and families.

5. Social Care
This is a draft Bill and will set out what support people could expect from Government and what action the Government would take to help them to plan, prepare and make informed choices about their care. These proposals will deliver on the Liberal Democrat commitment to modernise care, allow local authorities to fit services around needs and outcomes and give people greater choice by making it easier for people to plan for future care needs. This will finally bring together a patchwork of legislation dating back to the 1948 National Assistance Act, creating sustainable system for our ageing population.

6. Energy Bill
This Bill will support private sector investment in low-carbon power generation. This will help to provide greater security of energy supply, ensure lower consumer energy bills in the face of escalating world oil and gas prices and secure the Liberal Democrat commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. It will secure the estimated £110 billion of investment in power generation by 2020 creating thousands of jobs in all parts of the UK.

7. House of Lords
Reforming the House of Lords has been an historic commitment of the Liberal Democrats: our predecessors first proposed it when the Queen's grandfather was on the throne. While the Government rightly focuses on growth, that doesn't mean you can't reform politics at the same time. The case for reform is clear: in a democracy people should have power over politicians rather than give party leaders the power to stuff a chamber full of supporters.

The current situation is untenable:

• The House of Lords is an overstocked chamber, where you're more likely to be older than 90 than under 40.
• Just fifteen countries worldwide use appointment as the predominant means of selection to the upper house, including Jordan, Belize, Trinidad and Tabago, and Burkino Faso.
• The only other country in the world where the hereditary element still exists is Lesotho.
• Each member is entitled £300 for each day they attend. If everyone attends, the current cost would be almost £1m a week.

8. Grocery Code Adjudicator Bill
This is a Bill to get a fair deal for British farmers and to target 'Trolleygarchs' and help small business and independent traders. The independent adjudicator will ensure suppliers are treated fairly and lawfully by supermarkets.

9. Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill
This Bill will deliver on a long-standing Liberal Democrat commitment by setting up the Green Investment Bank. It will also reform competition law by creating a single Competition and Markets Authority, take action on director's pay and reduce burdens on business by repealing unnecessary legislation.

10. Defamation Bill
This Bill will strengthen free speech and delivers on our manifesto commitment to reform libel laws. The bill will prevent Britain becoming a haven for 'libel tourism' and ensure that the threat of libel proceedings is not used to frustrate robust scientific and academic debate, or to impede responsible investigative journalism. It will also create a balance in the law - ensuring that people who are defamed are able to protect their reputation, but that free speech is not trampled on.

11. Justice and Security Bill
The Bill will strengthen oversight of the security and intelligence agencies. Last year, we published a Green Paper with a range of options including extending the existing use of closed proceedings in civil damages cases. Those claims cannot currently be heard there because of the quantity of national security sensitive information involved. We have listened carefully to the consultation responses and will publish a Bill in due course.

12. Draft Communications Data Bill
This Bill aims to maintain the ability of law enforcement agencies to access vital communications data under strict safeguards. There will be full pre-legislative scrutiny on communications data proposals before anything final or concrete is introduced. Though the format is still to be decided, there will be the chance to fully examine the proposals, to ensure that they are both necessary and proportionate, and to call expert witnesses from industry and civil liberties groups. It will also look at the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to see if the protections we have around the use of communications data are enough and how we might strengthen them.

13. Crime and Courts Bill
In addition to setting up the National Crime Agency, this Bill contains a marker for any legislation needed as a result of the consultation into community sentences. Our intention is to reform community sentences so that they are a genuine alternative to custody. This 'rehabilitation revolution' will extend the use of restorative justice and improve treatment for people with alcohol or drug addictions, or other mental health problems. It will also allow us to improve the flexibility of community sentences so that offenders can maintain an education, a job, or childcare duties while undertaking their punishment. The Bill will also reform the judiciary - making it more flexible, more diverse and appointments more transparent.

14. Draft Water Bill
This Bill will implement the reforms set out in the December 2011 Water White Paper. This will reform the water industry and deregulate markets to enable consumers to negotiate better services from the water companies. It also includes environmental measures such as new controls on abstracting water from rivers.

"It's been a disappointing and difficult night for the Liberal Democrats. I'm really sad that so many colleagues and friends, Liberal Democrat councillors, who've worked so hard, so tirelessly, for so many years, for communities and families in their local areas, have lost their seats. And I want to pay tribute to all the great work that they have done.

"I'm determined that we will continue to play our role in rescuing, repairing, and reforming the British economy. It's not an easy job and it can't be done overnight. But our duty is to boost jobs and investment and restore a sense of hope and optimism to our country.

"I believe that, over time, people will come to acknowledge our unique role, the Liberal Democrats, in this Government as the only party that combines responsibility on the economy with social fairness."

Tim Farron says 'Thank You'

The polling stations have yet to open as I'm writing this. I've spent the last few days reminding postal voters to send their ballots in, mostly using the Connect phone bank.

I've also been out with fellow campaigners delivering last minute messages to our supporters - reminding them of our track record of hard work and achievement.

Wherever I go on the campaign trail, I am struck by the passion and determination of Lib Dem candidates and their teams, and by their dedication to their communities. I haven't met a single Lib Dem candidate who doesn't objectively deserve to be elected. But of course, not everyone will have won by the time you read this.

Over the last few weeks, being out on the doorsteps with you - from Dundee to Dollis Hill and all parts in between - has been exhilarating. If I needed reminding why I am a Liberal Democrat, then being out with our activists, who live and breathe community politics would have done the job.

All of us know that for the good of the country we have put ourselves in the political firing line - and made life really hard electorally. We have been given a precious chance in appalling circumstances to make this country greener, fairer and more liberal - we were right to grasp that chance.

All the same, being in power at such a difficult time as this has not made us popular - many of those who identify themselves as Liberal Democrat supporters are confused or even angered by our role in government.

So in our communities we have a chance to make a difference on the ground - whether we were successful this week or not. I often tell the tale of my dear friend and mentor Neva Orrell who lost her seat in Leyland, Lancashire no less than three times. Each time she lost, the Liberal group on the council was down to zero, but each time she carried on campaigning and each time she won her seat back next time.

I hope that most of you reading this will have won in the elections, but if you didn't, can I just say that I am utterly proud of you. Take the weekend off, and then on Monday, get out there and do a Neva.

A copy of the email is below

This Thursday across much of England, Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners will be standing for election to represent their communities on their local council. I would like to wish them the very best in those elections - every vote for the Liberal Democrats and every Liberal Democrat councillor elected is a step towards a more liberal country.

Liberal Democrat councillors have a well-deserved reputation for dedication and commitment to their local communities. And our record on freezing council tax, protecting local libraries and giving pay rises for the lowest paid council workers shows the difference we make when we run local councils.

Labour may choose to lie in what they tell people about our record in government, but I remain very proud of what we have achieved: raising the income tax threshold and cutting taxes for 23 million ordinary working people, implementing the Pupil Premium, creating record numbers of apprenticeships and delivering the 'triple lock' guarantee for pensions.

We have only been able to implement these much-needed liberal policies because of the hard work of Liberal Democrats across the country. That hard work can make a difference again on Thursday.

Commenting on the Protection of Freedoms Act receiving Royal Assent, Chair of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, Adrian Trett said:

"The Protection of Freedoms Act is a major win for the LGBT rights. Gay and bisexual men who were convicted for acts that are now perfectly legal will finally be able to get them deleted from their criminal records. It marks the end of the overhang from a bygone era when being gay was still criminalised.

"It shows the determination of the Liberal Democrats and the Coalition Government to do the right thing. The march for equal rights is not over yet but with today's news and the consultation on how to introduce equal marriage, we're steadily chipping away at the final hurdles."

The Protection of Freedoms Act will:

• stop councils snooping
• end the storage of DNA of innocent people
• reduce the bureaucracy of CRB checks
• end 28-day detention
• stop schools deciding on their own to take fingerprints of children
• Make stalking a criminal offence
• End wheel clamping on private land
• Delete historical convictions for men who have had consensual gay sex with someone who was over 16

Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for this piece of legislation, proposing a "Freedom Bill" more than four years ago when Nick Clegg was the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesman.

Commenting, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Policy Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equality, Tom Brake said:

"This is a milestone in the fight to claw back our civil liberties. Under the Labour government, our civil liberties were steadily eroded by an increasingly over-bearing security state.

"Liberal Democrats have done the right thing to clear up Labour's mess by ending these shameful practices with the Protection of Freedoms Act.

"The Coalition Government has already scrapped ID cards and destroyed the National Identity Register and is now making another leap forward with this Act to end Labour's surveillance state.

"The Act stops councils snooping, ends the storage of the DNA of innocent people, reduces the bureaucracy of CRB checks, curtails 28-day detention without charge and bans schools from taking children's fingerprints without parental permission."

Liberal Democrat research published today shows that Labour are wasting millions of pounds on vanity projects, executive car services and corporate communications while slashing library services, closing dementia centres and ending support for the most vulnerable.

Simon Hughes is calling on voters to stop Labour turning more of our councils into nearly bankrupt authorities, just like they did to the country.

Commenting, Simon Hughes said:

"When Ed Miliband said he had a special responsibility to show us that every pound that is spent by Labour, is spent wisely, he clearly forgot to tell his councillors.

"Labour councils have failed their own leader's test. Rather than spending money on essential services and supporting the most vulnerable, they want to waste money on executive cars, cabinets for silverware and oil paintings.

"Liberal Democrats in councils across the country are making the best calls for local people. That is why Liberal Democrat-controlled councils are freezing council tax this year, are most likely to offer pay rises for the lowest paid and are still managing to open libraries instead of closing them.

"A vote for Liberal Democrat candidates on Thursday is a vote to stop Labour wasting our money locally just like they did nationally."

The figures were revealed while Labour Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman, visited the city, attempting to defend Labour's waste on Sheffield City Council.

Local Liberal Democrat councillors are campaigning to save Sheffield's weekly bin collections, vital recycling services and local dementia homes, placed under threat of closure by Labour councillors.

Senior Sheffield Labour councillors have argued that no money is available but figure released today show a staggering £4.2m of wasteful spending.

In the last 12 months Labour councillors have:

• Approved £2.2m to refurbish Town Hall meeting rooms;
• Agreed £400,000 to 'communicate' their plan to reduce bin collections;
• Rejected a plan to save £1.2m by reducing the pay of senior officials;
• Refused to reduce the £400,000 bill to fund full time Trade Union officials;
• Scrapped Liberal Democrat plans which would have given the lowest paid council workers a permanent £250 pay rise both this year and next year.

In addition to this, Labour councillors turned down extra funds from the Government to help save Sheffield's weekly bin collections.

Commenting, Simon Hughes said:

"Labour needs to understand that elections are about priorities: protecting essential services and helping the most vulnerable. Whatever the financial circumstances, councils like Sheffield and others across the country run by Labour are making things worse by investing in the wrong priorities - spending millions refurbishing town hall meeting rooms whilst cutting dementia care.

"Liberal Democrats across the country are standing on a record of making the right calls for their communities in difficult times while Labour is trying desperately to turn attention away from their own records because they can't defend their terrible local record of slashing key services.

"No Liberal Democrat-controlled council in England is closing their libraries and some are opening new ones. Every Liberal Democrat council has frozen Council Tax and our councils have given the lowest paid workers a pay rise more frequently than Labour's. This comes on top of record rises in the state pension and giving nearly 25m basic-rate tax payers an Income Tax cut last year, this year and next year.

"Labour accepts the need to cut the deficit, but nationally have come forward with no credible plans for what they would do. Their record locally can only demonstrate what a disaster for our country another Labour government would have been.

"Instead of justifying plans to cut services unnecessarily, Harriet Harman should be asking her Labour colleagues what they are doing to tackle wasteful spending."

"The UK has one of the most flexible labour markets in the world and reforms to tribunals by Vince Cable have improved it even further.

"I don't believe that tearing up employment rights is going to pave the way for economic recovery.

"People worrying they may be fired at will is only going to undermine consumer confidence at a time when we want people spending on their local high street.

"Liberal Democrats believe the right way to sort out Labour's mess is to get spending under control, get the banks lending, rebalance the economy away from the City through the £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund and invest in the future and skills of our young people as we have through the £1bn Youth Contract."

Help us fight Labour lies says council chief

Senior local government Liberal Democrats are going on the offensive after voters in many parts of the country where local elections are taking place received leaflets from the Labour Party containing blatant lies about the Liberal Democrats.
The party is used to the usual strident propaganda put out by the opposition, but in this case senior Lib Dems believe it is time to fight back and rebut serious untruths.
The Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Local Government Association and Leader of Portsmouth Council,
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, is determined to take on this negative campaigning.

"Have you seen the kind of lies and scares Labour are attacking local Liberal Democrat candidates with?" he asks.

"I didn't know that we had scrapped free prescriptions for pensioners. Not to mention axing free TV licences and bus passes too!"

"That's because it's not true," stresses Gerald.

"Millions of pensioners who use these services every day can verify this! Gerald is urging members to help the party counteract these underhand tactics.

"Our candidates need your help now to fight Labour's lies and scares," he says.

"Because this kind of campaigning should not be allowed to succeed. With your support, we can elect more local Liberal Democrat councillors to fight for communities across Britain."

If you have local elections in your area, here's how you can help today.

• Make 5 calls to our supporters to remind them to vote on Thursday (http://bit.ly/JLaZqB)
• Donate £5 to help pay for 10 calls to remind our supporters to vote on Thursday
  

Commenting on the draft budget, Senior Liberal Democrat MEP and Vice President of the Budget Committee in the European Parliament, George Lyon said:

"During tough economic times when households budgets are shrinking and people are worried about their jobs it is hard to justify any EU budget increase.

"People expect the European budget to reflect the gravity of the economic situation we face.

"However, this proposed budget increase has nothing to do with increased spending in Brussels. It is the direct result of increased demand for co-financed EU spending by Member States as they scramble to draw down EU funds before the end of this seven year financial planning period."

Mr Lyon, who is in charge of a new working group set up to find savings in the administrative budget of the European Parliament, added:

"MEPs are determined to find more savings and efficiencies from the EU administrative budget, which is around 6% of the total budget.

"However, if we want to cut the budget back to the level that people across the EU demand then Member States must engage with Parliament to find savings out of the 94% of the budget that is spent directly in the backyards of EU Member States.

"The Budget Committee would like to hear representations from national governments on which roads, bridges and other projects in their own countries they want scrapped or delayed."

Liberal Democrat-controlled Cardiff is opening five new libraries and Portsmouth and Bristol are also opening new libraries.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said:

"While Conservatives and Labour councils their budgets without regard for the most vulnerable, Liberal Democrat-controlled councils know how to protect essential services.

"Encouraging and enabling reading is vital to the development of children and adults alike. If we don't give our children the opportunity to practice and perfect their reading skills at a young age, they will struggle to catch up later in life.

"Libraries are a life-line for local communities, especially for those who are less well off, and give people the opportunity to relax, learn new information and skills or to use the internet if they don't have it at home.

"Cutting services like Labour and Tory councils are doing will do long-term damage. Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing thanks to our financial competency in the councils we run. That is also the reason why not only have Liberal Democrat councils kept libraries open, but councils in England have also frozen council tax and are most likely to be giving the lowest-paid council workers a pay rise."

The statement is a correction to an answer to a Parliamentary Question asked by Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Transport, Julian Huppert.

Commenting, Julian Huppert said:

"Today's figures show that you can't trust Labour with our railways. Their record is appalling: foisting yearly rail fare increases on to passengers while failing to use that money to invest in services.

"Instead, they let inefficiency cripple our system, burdening taxpayers and passengers alike.

"Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are doing the right thing to clean up this mess by investing more in our railways than at any time since the Victorian era.

"The Coalition Government has committed to electrifying over 800 miles in 5 years but electrification is just one part of our huge program of investment.

"We're delivering Crossrail, creating a national High Speed network, reopening old lines, lengthening trains and bringing down costs.

Lib Dems push for equal marriage

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone and Party President Tim Farron are urging members to get involved in the government consultation on how best to deliver equal civil marriage. The consultation will lead to new legislation enacted in this Parliament.
The party Conference agreed that the best way to do that is in the context of full equality of marriage and civil partnerships.

"This party has always stood for individual liberty and the right to choose how we lead our lives,"

said Tim.

"That's why we came into being in the 19th Century to protect the rights of religious minorities, it's why we led the support for equality for women and why we decided before any other major party that civil marriage should be open to same-sex couples equally.
"The Liberal Democrats in government are now delivering on that. But it's important that as many people as possible respond to this consultation now.
"We've waited to get clarification from the Home Office on some ambiguously-worded questions, which we've now received. Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transexual Plus (LGBT+) Liberal Democrats have prepared a guide to the consultation, what it means, and how to respond to support the Liberal Democrat policy of equality.

More information is at www.abouttime.org.uk.

Local parties can also order leaflets from LGBT+ Lib Dems to distribute around local venues - not just ones specific to the LGBT+ communities, since equal marriage affects everyone. For more detail on our LGBT+ campaigning, please see http://lgbt.libdems.org.uk or follow @lgbtld on Twitter.

In a debate in the European Parliament, the long-standing campaigner against sexual exploitation of children, women and men said:

"While UEFA should be commended for launching campaigns to tackle racism in the game, I believe it is not doing enough to raise awareness of human trafficking."

Pointing out that many mega brothels opened in host cities at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Bearder disputed UEFA's claim that large football events are 'irrelevant' when it comes to trafficking.

Ahead of this year's Eurocup in Poland and the Ukraine, strip clubs are already opening near the football stadiums in Kiev. Ms Bearder continued:

"Where there is a spike in demand for sex workers, there will also be a spike in the number of women trafficked. This summer is a massive year for sport in Europe and millions of people will enjoy the games. We must ensure that such great events are not tarnished by trafficking."

"It is worrying that the two Eds don't understand the fundamental principles of our tax system, despite having worked in the Treasury for many years as Gordon Brown's backroom boys.

"It took them 13 years to introduce a 50p rate and then they only did so shortly before a general election. Now that the local elections are coming up, suddenly they care about it again and put down ill-thought through amendments that remove the top rate altogether.

"Labour's biggest tax change was to remove the 10p tax rate hitting people on low and middle incomes while Liberal Democrats are giving nearly 25m basic-rate tax payers an Income Tax cut and have lifted more than a million people out of paying Income Tax altogether. At the same time, we're making the rich pay their fair share by cracking down on loopholes and excessive tax relief."

"With all the controversy surrounding lobbying and tax at the moment, it's astonishing that a Tory peer is now the lead advocate in Britain for one of the world's biggest tax havens.

"While the Coalition is trying to make the rich pay their fair share, this exposes an element of the Conservative Party which wants to keep helping their wealthy friends hide their money from the taxman.

"If Lord Blencathra is using his very privileged position in the House of Lords to lobby for a government that wants to see money that should be for our schools, hospitals and our armed forces sailing off in luxury yachts to be stored on the Cayman Islands, it is yet another mockery of the Parliamentary system, and reinforces a need for an elected upper chamber."

"While Labour and the Tories fight over how many of their councils raised Council Tax, it's clear that with the Liberal Democrats your money is safest: no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has raised Council Tax.

"This stands in stark contrast to Tory and Labour-run councils which have been racking up the Council Tax in these difficult times. Ordinary working families are struggling already with paying bills, without their councils increasing the burden.

"Liberal Democrat councils have not only frozen council tax but are also most likely to be giving the lowest-paid council workers a pay rise.

"This comes on top of Liberal Democrat achievements in the Budget, which increased the number of people lifted out of tax to over a million and gave nearly 25m people a £130 tax cut this year.

"The choice in next month's elections is clear: vote Liberal Democrat for financially responsible councils that create jobs. Vote Labour and the Tories for waste, mismanagement and tax rises."

"We're pleased that Labour has finally recognised that big money should be taken out of politics and that this includes trade unions. But questions remain over how committed Labour is to real reform.

"Why does Ed Miliband still disagree with the Kelly proposals that people should have the freedom to opt-in to donating to the Labour party, rather than the complex system of opting out?

"Over the years there has been much talk of cleaning up party funding, but this has failed to materialised under successive governments. It is now essential that all political parties work together to find a lasting solution to party funding.

"Thanks to a commitment laid down in the Coalition Agreement, cross party talks are currently underway and Liberal Democrats will continue to lead the campaign to clean up party funding once and for all."

Cutting energy bills - saving the planet

Nick Clegg announced this week that agreements have been secured with the big six energy companies that could cut energy bills for millions of people.

The commitments will mean that EDF, E.On, British Gas, Southern, Scottish Power and Npower - who supply 99 per cent of British homes with energy - will now write to customers every year to specifically tell them what the best tariff is for them and how to get it. Many people are currently paying far more than they have to.

Some vulnerable customers - those assisted by the Warm Home Discount scheme - will be contacted twice a year. Customers will also be offered the best tariff if their contract comes to an end and if they contact their supplier at any time to ask.

There are more than 120 different tariffs. Currently, seven out of 10 people aren't on the best tariff for them. The average customer tends to stay on theirs for years, despite the amount of energy they use varying over time. In 2010, 75 per cent of people did not change their tariff.

The government wants people to save money on their bills whilst also becoming more switched on to the idea of saving energy through green measures to make further savings and protecting the environment.

At a speech at 'Canary Wharf's greenest building', the KPMG headquarters, the Deputy Prime Minister said: "We need to get bills as low as possible. I know that many families are struggling with rising energy bills. We can't control volatile world energy prices. But we can still help people get their bills down. As of this Autumn, your supplier will have to contact you with the best tariff for your needs. And if you call them, they'll have to offer you the best deal too.

"As we learn to live within our economic means we can learn to live within our environmental means too. To do that, we have to stop treating the environment like an add on; an afterthought. We must show that, in so many ways, consumer interests, business interests and green interests are the same," stressed Nick. "We have to give people the practical help to make more sustainable choices. We must do everything we can to ensure that the benefits and opportunities created by going green are clear."
"We're also working with energy companies to put special barcodes on energy bills. You'll be able to scan them with your smartphone to get quotes and switch tariff or supplier in a matter of minutes.
"Plus we're working with consumer groups to make it easier for people to club together and switch supplier. Consumers will be able to use their collective purchasing power to bring down bills.
"We want to see consumers saving money and engage with the energy they use," explained Nick. "Precisely the kind of thrift that is good for pockets as well as the planet."

(photo: Crown copyright)

There is a myth doing the rounds in political debate today:
That, here in the UK, environmentalism has hit a wall.
That green is for the good times.
We cannot up our efforts to protect our environment...
While simultaneously growing our economy.
That we have to make a choice.

The story goes something like this:

Up until just a few years ago, the green movement was approaching a kind of heyday.
Europe had agreed a plan to combat global warming.
In the UK, the major political parties had united behind the Climate Change Act...
Enshrining our carbon reduction commitments in law.
Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" was a box office hit.
In affluent societies, as sustained growth satisfied citizens' basic needs...
Climate change was graduating from niche issue to mainstream concern.

Then: the credit crunch happened.

The global economy was plunged into unprecedented turmoil.
And, ever since, economic recovery has overtaken every other social and environmental priority.
The assumption is that cash-strapped citizens cannot be expected to live more sustainably:
They have other, more urgent worries to contend with.
Struggling businesses must be liberated from burdensome environmental regulations.
And the upshot, we are told, is that our environmental ambitions must, temporarily, take a back seat.

But this new wisdom, however widely held, is utterly wrong.
Yes, right now climate change may be lower down some people' thoughts.
Yes, we need to be sensitive to businesses' needs.
But in so many ways, for so many consumers, for so many firms...
Going green has never made so much sense.

How can we relieve some of the pressure on hard-up households?
By helping families use less energy to cut their bills.

How can we rebalance our economy away from its overreliance on the City of London?
By capitalising on our competitive edge in green industries...
Generating jobs and wealth outside of London and the South East.

How will we find the money needed to renew our infrastructure?
By competing successfully in the global low carbon market...
To attract billions of pounds worth of outside investment to the UK.

And, as we make our way along this choppy recovery...
How can we better shield bill payers from price shocks in oil and gas?
By depending less on fossil fuels...
By producing more clean energy ourselves.

It is simply not true that you have to give up on the green economy if you want to grow.
The countries powering away from the recession...
Germany, China, Korea, Brazil...
Are investing heavily in low carbon industries.

Nor is it true that the best way to unleash growth is through a bonfire of environmental protections.
That's why, for example, I was determined we get the balance right in our planning reforms - as many of you were.
So not development-at-any-cost.
But sustainable development, driven by local needs.

Our dilemma is not choosing between green and growth.
It's marrying the two.

Lean times can be green times

I won't pretend that is easy.
While austerity need not be the death of environmentalism...
It does create challenges.
While greening our lifestyles and decarbonising our economy might be the right thing to do...
For millions of people, it doesn't always feel like the easy thing to do, especially now.

But, while sceptics say that it's all too difficult at a time of deep fiscal consolidation...
That economic uncertainty poses too many challenges...
I say that periods of economic reinvention force us to do things differently.
I say that lean times can be green times too.

Just think about today's Britain:

A nation burned by its excesses.
Paying the price for years spent living on borrowed time and borrowed money.

A nation turning the page on a culture of reckless consumption...
Where we sacrificed tomorrow to get-rich-quick today.

A nation thriftier, more frugal, more careful than before.
Determined to clean up this generation's mess and leave a better legacy for our children.

We are undergoing a profound transformation within our economy.
And for the first time ever our economic and environmental mantras are exactly the same:
Waste not, want not.
Whether it's waste of energy, waste of money, waste of our potential...
We are focused on conserving our precious resources.
Responsibility and sustainability are the watchwords of the day.

And that creates a unique opportunity to put environmental thrift into the mainstream.
As we learn to live within our economic means...
We can learn to live within our environmental means too.

To do that, we have to stop treating the environment like an add on; an afterthought.
We must show that, in so many ways, consumer interests, business interests and green interests are the same.
We have to give people the practical help to make more sustainable choices.
Where the benefits of going green are clear.

Of course, the environment contributes to our economy in a range of ways...
Many we don't always appreciate.
For example, anyone who's been on the Southbank this morning will have seen Friends of the Earth have turned it into a wildflower meadow...
To publicise the importance of bees to UK GDP.
Because bee populations are in decline and Friends of the Earth estimate it would cost farmers £1.8bn a year to pollinate their crops without them.
I plan to say more about the importance of natural capital in the coming months.
I'll be representing the UK at the Rio+20 Summit in the summer...
Where I'll be pushing for greater global protections for our natural assets.

But there are two specific areas I want to focus on today.
Two areas where going green is in the clear interests of individual families and the wider economy...
And where Government is doing everything we can to help consumers and businesses go green.

One: through a radical new approach to energy efficiency to cut emissions and bills.

Two: through building up the low carbon sectors on which our future prosperity depends.

Going green is good for consumers: energy efficiency

First, energy efficiency.

The UK still has some of the most energy inefficient buildings in Europe.
Fifteen million homes - more than half - are not properly insulated.
That's costing us in carbon:
A third of our emissions come from heating our homes.
And it's costing us in pounds:
Adding hundreds, every year, to bills for the most inefficient homes.

So the case for saving energy is compelling.
It fits perfectly with the waste not, want not mentality.
But we can't just preach at people.
We can't just demand everyone turns off their lights.
That has never worked before and it certainly won't work now.
Instead we have to understand and dismantle the obstacles that can put people off.

One problem is the hassle factor.
Of course, there's only so much Government can do here.
And making home improvements can be temporarily disruptive.
But there are ways to minimise that disruption...
And we are working with business to test innovative solutions.

For example, we've been working with B&Q and Sutton Council to see if offering a loft clearance service makes a difference.
B&Q clear your loft for you;
You go through your belongings while they install the insulation;
They put back the things you want to keep;
And everything else gets taken to Cancer Research shops to be sold for charity.

The first trial found that people were three times more likely to go for this than straight insulation.

[Awareness]

Another problem is awareness
Very few of us really know how much energy we use.
So we have replaced extraordinarily confusing Energy Performance Certificates with a much clearer document...
Showing, in simple terms, the cost of fuelling your home...
And the potential savings of using less energy.

From the summer, we'll be trialling a new project with First Utility and America's OPOWER...
Where consumers are told how much energy other, similar households use.

Working with US utilities, OPOWER has helped encourage American households to reduce consumption by around 2%.
That may not sound a lot, but it soon adds up.
In the States, they've helped reach around 11 million homes...
So far saving people around $85m.
We want to see what the same approach could achieve here.

And, of course, the biggest barrier for many people is the prospect of expense.
So that's where we are providing most help.

The Government's Green Deal, which we'll begin rolling out in the Autumn...
Will offer businesses and homeowners energy saving home improvements...
But at no upfront cost.
Customers will have energy saving measures installed in their homes by trusted suppliers...
From high street brands to local traders.

• They will only begin paying for those improvements once they're complete.
• Payment will be made through their bills, over a period of time.
• And they shouldn't be out of pocket because their homes will be more energy efficient...
• Allowing them to save on their energy bills each month.
• We'll ensure customers are never charged more for the home improvements than we expect them to make back in cheaper bills.
• Plus the charge is attached to the property, rather than the person.

So if you move, you stop paying.

That is maximum affordability, with savings that should more than cover costs.
Where families still find it difficult to take up the Green Deal...
They will get help with their home improvements.

I can confirm today that we will be requiring the energy companies to provide at least £540m to fund energy saving improvements in the worst off homes:
So for low-income and vulnerable homes, older people, people with disabilities.
These are the households most at risk of fuel poverty.
And there will be specific support for the most deprived areas.

We expect the investment to help 180,000 fuel poor households a year...
Delivering the lasting improvements that will make their homes cheaper to heat - for good.

And, to help everyone with their bills...
To get more people switched on to the energy they use...
I can announce today that we have secured a landmark deal with the six big energy companies...
Who cover 99% of customers...
To give customers a guaranteed offer of the best tariff for them.

Right now, 7 out of 10 customers are on the wrong tariff for their needs - so paying too much.
Yet people rarely switch.
Despite the fact some families could save over £100 a year.
And there are currently over 120 different tariffs...
Making it very difficult to know where to start.

So, as of this Autumn, your supplier will have to contact you, every year, with the best tariff for you.
And, if you call them, they'll have to offer you the best deal too.

We're also working with energy companies to put special barcodes on energy bills.
You'll be able to scan them with your smartphone to get quotes and switch tariff or supplier in a matter of minutes.

Plus we're working with consumer groups to make it easier for people to club together and switch supplier...
Helping consumers use their collective

purchasing power to bring down bills.

These are the kinds of changes that help people save money.
That get us thinking about the energy we use.
That promote the kind of thrift that is good for pockets as well as the planet.
Going green is good for the economy: boosting low carbon industry

And just as we help UK consumers reap the benefits of going green...
We need to help more businesses seize the opportunities it presents too.

This country is already a powerhouse in green industries.
The sixth largest low carbon market in the world.
Home to an unrivalled research base;
With enviable natural resources for wind and wave energy.

In just the last year £5.7bn worth of planned investment in UK renewables has been announced...
In wind, biomass and energy from waste...
Potentially supporting tens of thousands of new jobs.

And we're seeing traditional British firms excelling in new markets.
I recently visited David Brown Gear Systems...
A Huddersfield-based business that has successfully bid for Regional Growth Fund money.
During the First World War they built propulsion units for warships.
Now, by combining a tradition of British engineering with cutting edge innovation...
They've secured a multimillion pound contract to help build wind turbines for Samsung.

And yet, despite our clear strengths in these sectors...
We are still not tapping all of our potential.

When I speak to representatives from low carbon sectors...
I am always struck by their optimism for their companies and this country.
But I also hear time and time again that they have concerns about expanding;
They're finding it difficult to secure investment;
They have to go elsewhere to source their supply chains because British firms can't support their needs.

It cannot be right that our competitors aggressively back their strengths...
While we tread hesitantly around ours.
Perhaps part of that timidity is a hangover from the 1970s.
Where the attempt to back winners collapsed into huge state subsidies for losers.
But, whatever the reason, we've swung too far the other way.

So I am determined that this Coalition strains every sinew...
To give these sectors the certainty and backing they need;
To help more of our businesses move into these markets;
And to help energy intensive industries make the transition...
Securing their place in our low carbon markets of the future.

That's not the same as picking winners...
The market has already done that - these sectors and firms are already a success.
It's government joining the dots to make the most of all our talents and skills.

Whether by improving infrastructure...
Where we're setting up the Green Investment Bank...
With UKGI beginning lending next month.

Whether by making sure we have the right skills.
For example through protecting science spending...
And massively increasing investment in apprenticeships.

We're supporting green R&D.
For example in low carbon cars...
Encouraging companies like Nissan to build these vehicles here in the UK
We're working extremely hard to open up export markets...
Using UKTI to identify high value, environmentally friendly infrastructure projects that can be supplied by UK companies.

We're creating better, smarter regulation... Crucially by overhauling our electricity market...
And more detail on that will be coming in the Queen's Speech.
We're using the tax system - with our Carbon Price Floor and the Climate Change Levy.

And, because not all companies can change to low carbon overnight...
We're helping traditional industries become more sustainable.
One of the first areas UKGI will look at, for example, will be industrial energy inefficiency...
Making £100m available from this month.

We need to be realistic about the time transition will take.
Which is why we're looking at how we ensure these companies aren't disproportionately affected by some of our measures.
Because, let's be clear:
It is in no one's interests for these industries to pack up and go abroad.
They are vital for UK jobs.
Their products - steel, chemicals - are critical to green industry.
And would we rather have them here, where we can help them cut their emissions?
Or in countries with lower environmental standards and ambitions?

So proper support. Real certainty.
With Government sending a clear signal across the world:
We want the UK to be the number one destination for clean, green investment.
We want low carbon industries serviced by British supply chains.
In waste not, want not Britain, we are going to play to all our strengths.

So, to finish as I began:
There is no choice between protecting the environment and growing the economy.
Go green and you help hard-pressed families with their bills.
Go green and you build up the businesses that will be generating jobs and wealth for years to come.

I cannot remember a time when consumers, industry and environmentalists had so much in common.
Those of us who believe in a more sustainable future must seize the opportunity that creates.

Don't believe the naysayers when they tell you environmentalism is off the agenda.
And don't be in any doubt of our commitment to being the greenest government ever.

This is a Coalition that has committed to halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2025:
The boldest target set, in law, by any government, anywhere in the world;
And we'll be pressing our neighbours to set much more ambitious EU targets at talks in Denmark next week.

A Coalition leading the biggest shakeup of the electricity market in thirty years.

A Coalition creating the UK's first ever market in energy efficiency through the Green Deal.

A Coalition investing in a series of world firsts despite the huge pressures on the public purse:

The first ever national bank devoted to green investment.

The first ever Carbon Capture and Storage project at commercial scale.

In just four months, the greenest ever Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Make no mistake: the economic situation creates challenges...
But it has not weakened our resolve.
It has only strengthened our ambition.


Thank you.

Nick Clegg has announced that the big six energy companies - EDF, E.On, British Gas, Southern, Scottish Power and NPower, who supply 99 per cent of British homes with energy - will now write to customers every year to specifically tell them what the best tariff is for them and how to get it.

'Going Green has never made so much sense'
The Deputy Prime Minister made the announcement in a speech where he also hit out at people who believe you must dismiss the green agenda in order to deliver growth.
In his speech Nick Clegg said:

"There is a myth doing the rounds in political debate today; that here in the UK environmentalism has hit a wall; that green is for the good times; and that we cannot up our efforts to protect our environment while simultaneously growing our economy.
"But this new wisdom, however persuasive, is utterly wrong. Yes, right now climate change may be lower down some people's thoughts. Yes, we need to be sensitive to businesses' needs. But in so many ways, for so many consumers, for so many firms, going green has never made so much sense."

You can read the full speech here.

Cheaper Bills
Currently there are more than 120 different tariffs on offer by the energy companies and seven out of 10 people aren't on the best tariff for them. The average customer tends to stay on theirs for years, despite the amount of energy they use varying over time. In 2010, 75 per cent of people did not change their tariff.
The Government wants people to save money on their bills whilst also becoming more switched on to the idea of saving energy through green measures to make further savings and protecting the environment.

Nick Clegg said:

"We need to get bills as low as possible. I know that many families are struggling with rising energy bills. We can't control volatile world energy prices. But we can still help people get their bills down.
"We want to see consumers saving money and engage with the energy they use. Precisely the kind of thrift that is good for pockets as well as the planet."

Bills can be further reduced with energy efficiency measures such as installing loft and cavity wall insulation - which the Government requires the big energy suppliers to help households with and provide free to some of the most vulnerable consumers.

Working to protect services

On a visit to Stockport on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg launched the Liberal Democrat campaign for local elections in England. There are 2,451 seats up for election on 3rd May - 814 Mets, 408 Unitary and 1,229 District.

"Liberal Democrat councillors across the country are working to protect the services that people value most, while Liberal Democrats in the Coalition clear up the economic mess Labour left behind," said the Party Leader. "Our priority is clear, in difficult times we must make sure we do all we can to help ordinary working people.
"That is why, unlike Labour or the Conservatives, every Liberal Democrat council in England has frozen Council Tax. That is why Liberal Democrat councils are more likely to earmark funds for the lowest paid than any other. And that is why this month Liberal Democrats in government are delivering tax cuts for 25m working people.
"Liberal Democrats have a strong record in local government and are committed to fighting for communities across the UK."

This month Lib Dem policies coming to fruition include:

• A tax cut for 25m working people - £130 in 2012
• The number of workers lifted out of income tax reaches 1m
• The largest ever increase in the state pension - £5.30 a week
• £1.25bn invested in schools through the pupil premium - increasing to £2.5bn by 2014
• A £1bn investment to get every young person earning or learning

Local Government Association research has revealed it is Liberal Democrat-run councils that are the most likely to earmark funds for the lowest paid, and give low-paid workers a pay rise.

Regional manifestos for all regions can be seen on the Liberal Democrat website - except London's manifesto, where the Liberal Democrats for London campaign will be publishing its manifesto soon.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:

"I'm delighted we are taking our Autumn Conference to Glasgow, particularly at such an important time in Scotland's and the UK's history. Our party has always led the way in campaigning for devolution, and I hope coming to the city will remind Scots that we are committed to continuing that process and securing their future as part of the UK.

"It will also allow us to recognise the contribution that the Scottish Party and our Scots Liberal Democrat Cabinet Ministers - Danny Alexander, Michael Moore and Alistair Carmichael - are making to repairing the economic mess that this coalition government inherited from Labour."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"I am really pleased to welcome the Liberal Democrat Federal conference to Glasgow.

"Glasgow is vibrant and welcoming city and the SECC is a great venue for our conference.

"This is a really great opportunity for us to get our message out that Liberal Democrats are working hard in Government on the side of hard working people."

"James Murdoch will hope this resignation takes some of the pressure off News Corp's bid for BSkyB. No doubt the other BSkyB owners will be breathing a sigh of relief that the bid, for now, seems to be on the back burner.

"However, whether or not News Corp qualifies as a 'fit and proper person' remains to be seen, and there are still unanswered questions on James Murdoch's knowledge of phone hacking.

"It is essential that this resignation does not act as a barrier to finding out the truth."

"Liberal Democrat councillors across the country are working to protect the services that people value most, while Liberal Democrats in the Coalition clear up the economic mess Labour left behind.

"Our priority is clear, in difficult times we must make sure we do all we can to help ordinary working people. That is why, unlike Labour or the Conservatives, every Liberal Democrat council in England has frozen council tax. That is why Liberal Democrat councils are more likely to earmark funds for the lowest paid than any other. And that is why this month Liberal Democrats in Government are delivering tax cuts for 25m working people.

"Liberal Democrats have a strong record in local government and are committed to fighting for communities across the UK."

"This carefully framed report is a significant contribution to the controversial debate about extradition of British citizens to the United States.

"Its conclusions, in so far as they relate to the standard of proof and the forum for trial are, unimpeachable.

"The Home Secretary must surely take account of these valid arguments for change."

Also inside Peter Arnold asks some questions about Scottish independence.

This week Nick Clegg has been representing the UK at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, which was attended by representatives from 53 nations. The Deputy Prime Minister had a number of one-to-one meetings with world leaders, including US President Barack Obama.

The UK delegation, led by the Deputy Prime Minister, called for more vigilance about the spread of potentially dangerous information and discussed progress on attempts to 'lock down' vulnerable nuclear materials.

During his visit to South Korea, he announced that a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Korea had been agreed. The Agreement could bring £500m per year to the UK economy and create £2bn new export opportunities for UK businesses. He also unveiled a new Host2Host agreement which will help British firms win contracts for sporting events like the 2014 Asian Games, the World Student Games in 2015 and Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018.

One leader he spent time with was President Pinera of Chile, who rose to prominence in the UK with his handling of the rescue of the 33, trapped miners in October 2010.

They had a wide ranging discussion which covered, among other topics, the global economic situation; the upcoming Rio +20 environment summit (at which both Nick and President Pinera will be representing their respective countries) and tensions between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

Interestingly, President Pinera had a keen interest in Liberal Democrat tax policy. The clearly well-informed President was quick to ask - completely unprompted - whether the Budget had yet been voted on; when the personal allowance might be raised further and how many people had been lifted out of paying income tax. Nick was only too pleased to be able to answer his questions - particularly on lifting two million people out of tax.

A clearly impressed Chilean President hailed the "excellent" tax policy before wishing Nick luck with his efforts to raise the threshold further. Extraordinary evidence of the global recognition that this policy is starting to enjoy.

"Tonight's budget votes confirmed the resolve of the Lib Dems to give tax cuts to millions and to make sure that the burden of paying more is taken by those with the highest incomes.

"But tonight's budget votes also showed that Labour are all over the place on financial policy and that their votes and actions do not match their words.

"After five days of huff and puff from Ed Balls, and sustained protest about the proposal to lower the highest level of tax rate next year, Labour MPs were not in the chamber to vote against the change. This says all the public need to know about Labour's position.

"A last minute increase in the higher tax rate before the election and no real commitment to continue the 50p tax rate while they are in opposition shows how they value rhetoric more than action."

"It is of course right for the Treasury to explore all options before selling RBS. However, it is absolutely essential that any sale is done to deliver the best possible benefit to the tax payer.

"The best way to guarantee a fair deal for taxpayers would be through the mass distribution of the stakes the Government owns in RBS and Lloyds. It is the fairest way of giving taxpayers a share of the rewards while ensuring the Treasury returns its investment.

"If a sovereign wealth fund wants to buy shares in RBS they should be buying them direct from the taxpayer, so those people who bailed out the bank enjoy the greatest return."

Julian Huppert MP, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Transport Committee, said:

"That is a fantastic achievement. Low carbon public transport is critical if we are to wean ourselves off fossil fuels. So too is a cheap and reliable transport system, otherwise people will simply choose to drive.

"The new spending announced today proves that Liberal Democrats in Government are dedicated to providing the quality local bus service which this country is so desperately lacking.

"Local Authorities will be able to provide real time travel information, smart ticketing, extra buses, Wi-Fi, improved accessibility, new bus stops, bus lanes, junction improvements and better traffic management.

"These reforms are exactly what local transport needs and they are exactly why Liberal Democrats in Government are committed to delivering on our manifesto commitment to meet our climate change goals and build a cheap, reliable transport service in every community"

Victory for 'further faster' campaign

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP, writes:

"Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

"The increase of £1,100 is worth £220 to 21 million working people - taking the total income tax cut for working people delivered over three years by the Coalition to nearly £550 a year. Two million people will pay no income tax at all. By going 'further and faster' as Nick Clegg promised, we getting real help to millions of hard-pressed people at a time when they need it most.

"The £14bn tax cut means that the government is in 'touching distance' of delivering the most important promise we Liberal Democrats made in the 2010 General Election manifesto - that no one should have to pay any income tax until they earn more than £10,000.
"With the allowance rising to an historic high of £9,205 next April, our aim will be to deliver the final step at the next budget - so that people get the full benefit over a year before the 2015 General Election.

"This big tax cut for working people is paid for in part by a significant increase in the tax paid by the wealthiest. As part of the Coalition budget deal, we agreed to reduce the top rate of tax to 45p - but only after securing a series of new taxes on the wealthy that pay for it five times over.
"Labour's 50p rate turned out not to work effectively. By introducing taxes that do work, like a tycoon tax, raising stamp duty, blocking stamp duty avoidance, and getting non-resident companies to pay Capital Gains Tax on their residential property, we have secured real progress on the taxation of wealth. This is a Budget for the many, not the few.

"All of this has been done while sticking to our tough but necessary plan to deal with this country's financial problems. Britain can't afford unfunded giveaways - unlike the last Labour government, we have made sure everything is paid for.

"The Budget shows real progress on our commitments to infrastructure - on roads, railways, and renewable energy. Tougher green taxes on company cars will help cut emissions as well as raising money.

"The Budget delivers other long fought for Liberal Democrat ideas. The government is now committed to delivering the 'single tier pension' - Steve Webb's plan for a Citizen's Pension that will mean a basic pension above the means test of around £140 per week.

"Specific measures to support key industrial sectors like creative industries, technology investment, aerospace and university spin out, as well as further Business Tax simplification means that we have delivered a Budget for growth as well as fairness.

"The negotiations on this Budget were friendly but hard fought. But Liberal Democrats should be proud of what we have achieved - not for ourselves, but for the millions of people who voted for us because they saw a party willing to stand up for the squeezed middle. Those people can see the difference we are making in government for them - and that gives us a very strong message for the elections in May and beyond."

"As Liberal Democrats, our clear priority has been to bring about tax cuts to millions of ordinary hard working families.

"We said it, we promised it, today we've done it.

"There are many winners and indeed losers in any Budget.

"So who are the losers in the Budget? The millionaires who weren't paying their fair share.

"The winners are over 20m basic rate taxpayers who will be £220 better off because of what we have just announced in the Budget today.

"This is a Budget every liberal can be proud of.

"We're proud of the fact that we have delivered the largest increase in the Personal Allowance ever.

"We are proud of the fact we have halved the tax bill for people working on the minimum wage.

"We are very proud that we are taking over 2m people out of paying Income Tax altogether.

"We have delivered from the front page of our manifesto to the pay-packets of millions of ordinary working people."

---

The Liberal Democrats have ensured this is a budget for the millions not for the millionaires, delivering a £3.5billion tax cut to average working people. Read more here.

• A £3.5bn tax cut for working people
• Biggest single ever uplift in the tax threshold
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut

The Liberal Democrats have ensured this is a budget for the millions not for the millionaires, delivering a £3.5billion tax cut to average working people.

That's why the biggest move in this Budget is a tax cut for ordinary workers, going further and faster towards the Liberal Democrat goal of making the first ten thousand pounds you earn tax-free. From the front page of our manifesto directly to the pockets of working people.

Thanks to Liberal Democracts, people working full time on the minimum wage, will have seen their income tax bill cut in half.

We have delivered on Nick Clegg's pledge to go further and faster on the personal tax allowance. This means that 21m basic rate taxpayers will get an extra £220 cut in their income tax bills and a further 840,000 people will be taken out of paying income tax altogether.

• This Budget brings the personal allowance to £9,205 in April 2013
• This Budget brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550.
• This Budget brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Lib Dem Top Ten

1. Biggest ever uplift in the tax threshold to £9,205
2. 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
3. Compared to cutting the 50p rate, new wealth taxes raise FIVE times as much from that super-rich
4. Cutting corporation tax to help British business
5. Stamp duty increased to 7% for multi-million pound homes
6. Lib Dem tax cuts have saved average working people £550
7. 2 million low paid no longer face income tax
8. New 15% tax on companies buying property over £2m
9. Child benefit protected for middle-class families
10. Getting more money from the banks to loan more to British businesses

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"The news from the Chancellor today that the Budget will include new measures to tackle stamp duty avoidance is extremely welcome.

"For far too long the wealthiest in society have been able to get away with avoiding thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of pounds. It is simply not right that average working people playing by the rules face high tax bills when buying a home, yet time and time again we are seeing the rich and famous use clever accounting to get away without paying.

"This announcement is a good strong sign that the Budget this week will deliver on key Liberal Democrat demands to ensure the main benefits got to those on low and middle incomes, and that it is a budget for the many not the few."

"Labour have found yet another new use for their bankers' bonus tax, a seemingly endless fund of money. But their proposals do not stand up to scrutiny.

"The Real Job Guarantee is a pale comparison to the Youth Contract launched by Nick Clegg and shows Labour still doesn't understand how the economy works.

"Just like with previous job schemes which Labour dreamt up while driving the economy towards a cliff edge, Ed's plan does not provide jobs that last. As soon as a Government stops paying the full wage, employers would have no incentive to keep someone on.

"The Youth Contract provides a helping hand with real, private sector jobs and gives young people the skill needed for a lifetime of work through placements, apprenticeships and other additional support.

"Labour still can't be trusted with the economy and now they can't be trusted with helping young people into work either."

Fighting for a liberal Britain

In his speech to the party's Spring Conference last weekend, Nick Clegg said the party, and the nation, must pull together. "We must pull together as one nation, a liberal nation - because that is the spirit of Britain.

"Our biggest challenge is to rescue our economy. We need a new economy that serves not one square mile, but one nation. Not creative accounting, but creative industries. Not the City, but all our cities."

On jobs, he said: "Our Regional Growth Fund is investing £2.4bn, creating more than 300,000 jobs in the areas that need them most. And we will bring sanity and responsibility to our banking sector. That's why we've put up the bank levy and why we are protecting high street banks from risky investments.

"We will free our biggest cities, giving them new powers and new opportunities, to be the engines of growth again. And we will rebalance power in the workplace. That's why I want us to build a 'John Lewis' economy, where workers have a real stake … an old liberal idea to build a new liberal economy."

On the environment, Nick said: "Some say we have to choose between boosting growth and being green. What a load of rubbish. Going for growth means going green. The race is on to lead the world in clean energy."

And on welfare reform: "...in these hard times, we have to look out for each other. "Unemployment benefits are benefits for people who fall on hard times and hard times are not the moment to slash them. But if you are on benefit, you owe it to the nation, to yourself, and to your family to strain every sinew to find a job.

"That is why, I will be launching the new Youth Contract .. a £1bn scheme to get every jobless youngster earning or learning ... because there is nothing liberal about leaving our young people to waste away on the dole."

Taxation: "...the sight of the wealthiest scheming to keep their tax bill down to the bare minimum is frankly disgraceful. So, we will call time on the tycoon tax dodgers and make sure everyone pays a fair level of tax. A philosophy of tax as old as our party … tax wealth, not wages.

"That is why we will raise the income tax threshold to £10,000. Help we promised, help we must deliver in government, today. …I want the Budget to show how we are anchoring this government in the centre ground. Credible - but fair.

"I am proud of this Coalition Government. We have shown that two parties, two very different parties, can govern together. Take NHS reform ... the Health Bill was stopped in its tracks and rewritten because this is a coalition government.

"This is a bill for patients not profits. It is not a Liberal Democrat health bill but it is a better bill because of us, a better bill because of you. A better bill because of Shirley Williams. So, I am proud of how Coalition is working but I am even more proud of us, of you.

"I may be Deputy Prime Minister but let me tell you: I am as much of a radical as ever … we are in politics to change things. We are the pioneers of British politics: with our eyes on the horizon. By 2015, we will have done a lot but we will have plenty left to do …

"But 2015 is not the destination, it is a staging post … we will just be getting started on making this nation: stronger, fairer, greener, freer and a more liberal Britain with every passing year. That's the prize - let's get out there and fight for it."

(The full text of Nick Clegg's speech to Spring Conference can be found on the party's website: www.libdems.org.uk).

They were joined by the Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Kirsty Williams.

In letters to the Chancellor, Liberal Democrats urged the Chancellor to move further and faster on raising the Income Tax threshold so ordinary working people do not pay income tax on the first £10,000 they earn. This will ensure more than 2.5m people will be lifted out of paying tax all together and give millions £60 back in their pockets each month, compared to under Labour.

"Yet again, Labour fails to take responsibility for the mess it left the nation's finances in.

"The Coalition's emergency budget cut the amount you can get pension tax relief on by over £200,000. If Ed Balls thinks £200,000 cut is a tax break, he should borrow Alan Johnson's economics primer.

"The Liberal Democrats are lobbying hard for the budget to go further and faster in raising the income tax threshold. This will give hard-working people up and down the country a well deserved tax cut. That's £60 each month back in the wages of workers, paid for by taxing the wealthy."

Conference also called for the Coalition Government to do more, including:

• Going further to protect the right to free speech
• Restoring the right to protest
• Restoring individual freedom through changes to stop and search legislation, a reduction in the use of civil orders such as ASBOs for criminal activity and a ban on mosquito devices

Commenting, Julian Huppert MP, who proposed the motion, said:

"The Coalition Government is doing the right thing by working to restore our civil liberties. Labour's legislative assault on our liberties has been very damaging for our society and has been disastrous for the reputation of the police who enforced it.

"Thanks to Liberal Democrats, the Protections of Freedoms Bill, the scrapping of ID cards, the changes to the DNA database to protect innocent people and bringing an end to 'snooping powers' for councils show a clear break with our recent past.

"We have done well so far, but there is still much more to do. I am delighted that Conference today endorsed the Liberal Democrat vision for a free and open society which supports individuals, their rights and freedoms."

• More trusted - listening to local people and making policing much more responsive to communities' priorities.
• More professional - setting up the new police professional body with a key responsibility to recommend detailed national minimum recruitment standards for the police.
• More effective - making evidence based policing the defining feature of 21st century policing by establishing the world's first Institute for Policing Excellence.

The proposed reforms including measures to:

• Make Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) more accountable to the public between elections
• Create safeguards against the expansion of the role of PCCs
• Create an Institute for Policing Excellence
• Create a Police First development scheme based on the success of Teach First
• Encourage Police and Crime Panels to veto plans to cut police numbers unless all measures to cut bureaucracy have been exhausted.

Commenting, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Policy Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equalities, Tom Brake said:

"As an organisation, the police suffer from a lack of confidence and trust despite the fact that we have fantastic police officers who are dedicated, able and trying to do their best by the community they serve.

"Labour's legislative assault on our civil liberties has been disastrous for the reputation of the police who enforced it. The Coalition Government is doing the right thing to undo the damage Labour did and restore public confidence.

"But we must do more. It is essential that we clear up Labour's legacy and end people's feeling that they are both over-policed and under-protected. Conference has today backed the Liberal Democrats' vision on what is the right thing to do to restore public confidence in our police services."

This year will show the best of Britain. The Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee, a nation proud of our past, but with our face to the future. A nation that treasures liberty, honours hard work and values fair play and fair chances. That is the character of our country: strong, confident, united.

And our character as a nation is being tested, because even in this year of celebration families are under pressure, worrying about paying their bills, about keeping their jobs, about the future.

The road to full recovery for our economy will be long, and it will be hard. Anybody who says there is a quick or easy way out is kidding themselves. So the Coalition Government is working hard to clean up after the financial storm of 2008. Sweeping up Labour's mess and keeping our economy safe.

At times like these, we must pull together. Not let ourselves be pulled apart. Pull together as one nation. A liberal nation because that is the spirit of Britain.

Some people think there is something slightly un-British about liberalism. But this country, our country, is the home of liberty. And we Liberal Democrats are heirs to the great, British liberal cause. I am proud that now, in this Coalition Government, Liberal Democrats are repairing Labour's industrial-scale destruction of liberty.

Reversing 28 days of detention without trial, destroying the DNA records of innocent people held by the state, ending the illiberal nonsense of ID cards.

British liberties restored by British liberals.

Before 2015, because of us there will be:

the first gay marriage - and an end to child detention

the first bank levy - an end to huge tax loopholes for the rich

the first elections to House of Lords - an end to Control Orders

the first coalition government in our lifetimes

and an end to the myth that Liberal Democrats can't govern.

We are governing to fix our economy. We are governing to fight for fairness. We are in government - and we are on your side.

So yes, these are hard times. But this will be a good year for a great nation. A good year for Britain.

But let me tell you, this will be a good year for British liberalism too.

Our biggest challenge is to rescue our economy. We need to sort out the financial mess Labour left us. But we need economic reform too. We need a new economy that serves not one square mile, but one nation. Not creative accounting, but creative industries. Not the City, but all our cities. Healing the divide between North and South. That's why our Regional Growth Fund - that Ian Wrigglesworth has helped to lead - is investing £2.4 billion. Creating more than 300 hundred thousand jobs in the areas that need them most.

And we will bring sanity and responsibility to our banking sector. That's why we've put up the bank levy. And why we are protecting high street banks from risky investments.

We will free our cities. That's why we are striking deals with our biggest cities:

Sheffield and Manchester

Liverpool and Leeds

Bristol and Birmingham

Nottingham and Newcastle

Giving all of these great cities new powers and new opportunities, to be the engines of growth again.

And we will rebalance power in the workplace. That's why I want us to build a 'John Lewis' economy, where workers have a real stake. Not capital versus labour, bosses versus workers but modern enterprises built on shared endeavour and shared profit.

An old liberal idea to build a new liberal economy.

And a sustainable economy, one that protects the environment. Tackling climate change, green jobs for the future, green apprenticeships and a Green Deal to cut energy bills.

Some say we have to choose between boosting growth and being green. What a load of rubbish. Going for growth means going green. The race is on to lead the world in clean energy. The new economic powerhouses - China, India, Brazil - are competing.

So the choice for the UK is simple: wake up, or end up playing catch up. Going green is not a luxury for the good times. It is the best road out of the bad times.

Our party is the green party of government. We have always been a green party. And let me tell you this: we always will be a green party because we need an economy fit for the future to pull us out of this economic downturn.

And in these hard times, we have to look out for each other. That's why I fought so hard for benefits to be increased fully in line with inflation. The biggest cash rise ever in the basic state pension because we promised to look after pensioners. And we will.

Benefits for the unemployed were protected, too. Not everyone agreed with me on this, if you believed some of the stories. You would think these benefits are unlimited handouts for so-called "scroungers''. But these are benefits for ordinary people. Many of them laid off through no fault of their own and who strive to get back into work.

Most people who claim Job Seekers Allowance are off benefits within three months. They don't all sit there waiting for the next welfare cheque. That is a dangerous myth, that dishonours those down on their luck.

A friend of mine recently shared his memories of his father becoming unemployed. His Dad signed on but every day, he set the alarm for the same time as he had done for his job. He got up, shaved, put on a shirt and tie and sat at the kitchen table, working to get a job. And my friend said: "I've never been more proud of my Dad".

So let's never forget. Unemployment benefits are benefits for people who fall on hard times and hard times are not the moment to slash them. But if you are on benefit, you owe it to the nation, to yourself, and to your family to strain every sinew to find a job. To get up every day, just like my friend's Dad at the kitchen table and work at finding a job.

That's why I am such strong supporter of the basic idea driving the Coalition's welfare reforms to make work pay, boost independence and give real help finding a job rather than leaving people stuck on the dole, enslaved by poverty.

That is why, in a few weeks time, I will be launching the new Youth Contract. A Liberal Democrat drive for youth jobs: 20,000 more apprenticeships, 160,000 new jobs and 250,000 work experience places. A £1 billion scheme to get every jobless youngster earning or learning, getting all our young people earning or learning.

Because no matter how hard things may be we will never, ever leave our young people behind.

That includes encouraging work experience. There's been some controversy about this policy but I make no apology for it because we are doing the right thing. Labour's benefit rules actually penalised unemployed youngsters for getting work experience. So thousands of them ended up on the sofa, glued to the TV, cut off from the world of work, wasting time and losing hope. Our policy means young people can get up and get on, keep their skills alive, keep up the habits of a working life and improve their chance of landing a job.

Because let me tell you this: there is nothing liberal about leaving our young people to waste away on the dole.

So: we all have a part to play, a duty to the nation, and this duty is greatest of all for those with the greatest means. Those with the broadest shoulders should carry the heaviest burden - that is basic justice, Liberal justice. But that is not how it feels today.

Too often, rather than paying their dues the wealthy pay their accountants to get them out of it. Avoiding tax, minimising the amount they have to contribute - that's the name of their game. Boasting about the latest wheeze for moving an asset here, a property there and a loophole everywhere. All to make the tax bill lower.

Let me tell you, few things make me angrier as the unemployed struggle to find work, as ordinary families struggle to make ends meet, as young people struggle to get on the housing ladder: the sight of the wealthiest scheming to keep their tax bill down to the bare minimum is frankly disgraceful. Multimillionaires avoiding tax by moving their money around.

So: we will call time on the tycoon tax dodgers and make sure everyone pays a fair level of tax. We've already raised capital gains tax, cut tax reliefs for the wealthiest, clamped down on tax avoidance at the top and we will go further because the Liberal Democrats have a crystal clear approach.

A philosophy of tax as old as our party, described by Mill, pursued by Gladstone, implemented by Lloyd George: tax wealth, not wages. That is why we will raise the income tax threshold to £10,000. A radical tax policy. Our tax policy.

From next month, 25 million people will have more money in their pocket and over a million low-paid workers will have stopped paying income tax altogether. Just think about that for a moment: a million more workers with no tax bill because of us, because of you.

That's what it means to be a Liberal Democrat: real tax cuts at a time of real need. But we have to do more. That is why the Budget in ten days time and must offer concrete help to hard-pressed, hard-working families: a big increase in the income tax threshold, further and faster towards £10,000.

Help we promised, help we must deliver in Government, today.

I want the Budget to show how we are anchoring this Government in the centre ground. Credible - but fair. The last Labour budgets led our nation to the economic precipice. Fantasy budgets issued by a party in denial - out of ideas - and abdicating responsibility.

This month's Coalition budget will show the determination of both parties in Government to repair the public finances. Keep our economy safe and help working families.

The last big tax-cutting budget was in 1988. Nigel Lawson cut billions from the tax bills of the highest-paid workers: a budget for the few, not for the many. But this year's Coalition Budget must be a budget for fairness - not an 80s Lawson budget but a modern liberal budget.

Because we need a tax system for a nation pulling together: not being pulled apart. More important now than ever, when the forces of division are so strong. In dark economic times, people can turn inwards, close their doors, look for scapegoats. Fear can breed resentment and division: divisions between north and south between the nations of the UK, between different races or religions, between rich and poor, between the generations. Britain has a proud record of diversity and tolerance but we cannot be complacent. When the economy weakens, prejudice can breed.

So let's fight it, in every corner of our nation.

We are bringing forward proposals for gay marriage, already provoking debate. Let me just say, if you are a young gay person, your freedom to love who you choose is a

fundamental right in a liberal society - and you will always have our support.

Let's also fight for liberalism in London where just one more Liberal Democrat member of the Assembly would ensure the BNP gets kicked off. What a great moment for British tolerance that would be.

Let's wipe away the ugly face of racism and reaction. I call on all Londoners - vote for Brian Paddick, vote Liberal Democrat and kick out the BNP bigots.

And let me also say a word or two about Scotland. I want the Scottish people to have much more power for over Scottish affairs. The Liberal Democrats are, after all, the party of home rule. But I also know that, as nations in a United Kingdom, we are better together than we would be apart: richer, safer and stronger

Alex Salmond wants to break up the nations of the United Kingdom. I want to keep them together. He says this is a time for division - I say it is a time for unity. He wants to split us apart - I want us to pull together.

It is our job, as liberals, to fight against the forces of division. Fight for our vision of an optimistic, open and tolerant nation: a nation confident enough to face outwards to the world. Arguing, as I will be, at the Rio+20 Summit for green growth to create jobs, engaging with emerging nations to drive free trade, supporting President Obama's drive, in Korea this year to keep nuclear material out of the hands of terrorists and becoming the first major economy to hit the UN's 0.7 per cent target for foreign aid.

Real help for the poorest in the world, promised by us and the Conservatives in opposition - delivered by us together in government. This is a time that demands a better politics. A politics of the national interest.

That's why I am proud of this Coalition Government. We have shown that two parties, two very different parties, can govern together. Never again will the political Luddites be able to say that coalitions don't work. Coalition is working, it is has been tested and it has passed the test.

Take NHS reform. Controversial, yes. Difficult, yes. But the value of coalition has been proven because this is a coalition Government. The health bill was stopped in its tracks and rewritten because this is a coalition Government. Competition will be the servant of health care, not the master because this is a coalition government.

This is a bill for patients not profits. It is not a Liberal Democrat health bill but it is a better bill because of the Liberal Democrats, a better bill because of you. A better bill because of Shirley Williams - Shirley: thank you.

So: I am proud of how Coalition is working but I am even more proud of us, of you. The Liberal Democrats are once again a truly national party of government. The only party of the centre ground, not of the left or right, of north or south, rich or poor but doing the right thing for the whole nation.

The other parties are bound and gagged by vested interests. We are not. The other parties are hemmed into certain parts of the country. Look at the electoral map: blue seats in the south, red ones in the north. Look at where the money comes from: trade unions on one side, City financiers on the other. That is why we can say today: the Liberal Democrats are the only true one nation party.

A one nation party of the radical centre, representing all regions and nations. Seeing not what divides us - but what unites us. Sound on the economy, passionate about fairness: doing the right thing and battling vested interests. Challenging the status quo

For this is the timeless liberal mission: taking on the establishment when it fails the people. A more urgent challenge today than for generations because the old establishment has failed.

The two square miles - the City and Westminster have failed. Failed the ordinary people of this country and must not be allowed to fail them again. Now that we're in Government, people might ask if we can still be the party that challenges the establishment. The answer to that is an emphatic yes.

I may be Deputy Prime Minister but let me tell you: I am as much of a radical as ever.

Jo Grimond decried the conservatives of all parties, those who he said showed a 'sentiment in favour of things as they are':

Things as they are means an economy for executives not ordinary workers

Things as they are means a bank system that bankrupts our economy

Things as they are means life chances being crushed by the fortunes of birth

Things as they are means a tax system that hurts ordinary working families

Things are they are means a House of Lords stuffed with machine politicians

Things as they are means political parties kow-towing to media moguls

Things as they are just won't do any more

And we are in politics to change them. We are the pioneers of British politics: our eyes on the horizon. By 2015, we will have done a lot but we will have plenty left to do.

Take education - a touchstone issue for this party. We will have changed the landscape by the end of this parliament, spending £2.5 billion a year on our pupil premium to strengthen our schools and create new opportunities for our children.

But that is just the beginning.

So I want our ambitions for education to be at the very heart of our manifesto in 2015. Education that delivers on the liberal promise: that every child can go as far as their talent will take them. That is what we Liberal Democrats will fight for.

So: 2015 is not the destination. 2015 is a staging post. This country will be a more liberal nation but we will just be beginning to tackle the deep problems that cramp the lives of our citizens and hobble our economy.

Because let me tell you this: in 2015 we won't be looking back, asking people to thank us for what we have done. We will be looking forwards and asking for their support for what we can do together in the future.

We won't have finished the job in 2015. We will just be getting started, just getting started on making this nation.

Stronger

Fairer

Greener

Freer

A more liberal Britain with every passing year: that's the prize.

Let's get out there and fight for it.

The motion welcomed the Coalition's Green Deal, Green Investment Bank and ambitious carbon reduction targets.

It also called for improvements in energy efficiency and support for green infrastructure, transport and technologies.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey said:

"The Liberal Democrats were campaigning for the environment long before it was fashionable.

"This is the greatest challenge of our age and the Liberal Democrats will not back down in the fight against climate change.

"Making this the greenest government ever won't be easy, but it is the right thing for Britain and the planet.

"We are building a new economy from the rubble of the old, an economy with green jobs and green technologies at its heart."

''The regulator has been too silent so far and it is a relief to see it finally flexing its muscles.

"James Murdoch has fled to New York and no longer has his hands directly on British papers, but Liberal Democrats have established in Parliament that the whole company can still be held accountable.

"It's about time we showed that hacking phones on an industrial scale and corrupting public servants is not fit and proper behaviour for any person or company."

"I want to change London for the good and that is why I want to be Mayor of London and that is why I am fighting to win.

"People said to me you won't succeed if you're open about your sexuality - yet I became the highest ranking openly gay police officer in the UK.

"People said I couldn't tell my officers not to arrest people for cannabis, so they could concentrate on what was really important to local people - it's now police policy nationally.

"People are saying I can't be Mayor of London - watch me!

"We honestly believe we can deliver the best ever result in the Greater London Authority elections, Mayor and Assembly.

"We want a Liberal Democrat Mayor and Assembly, and with your help and support, on the streets, on the phones, on fundraising, on 3 May we really can achieve the best result the London Liberal Democrats have ever had."

…

"We used to have five London assembly members and we can have five assembly members again.

"Last time we only got three and a member of the BNP got in instead.

"I don't know about you but I don't want the BNP in the London Assembly. I don't want UKIP in the London Assembly.

"That's how important every single vote cast for the London Liberal Democrats is in this election."

Commenting, Jo Swinson MP, who proposed the policy motion said:

"Liberal Democrats are committed to putting young people at the heart of the Coalition Government's growth strategy.

"That's why last year Nick Clegg outlined a £1bn Youth Contract to get unemployed young people earning or learning before the long term damage is done.

"Today Liberal Democrats asserted our commitment to giving every young person a fair start in life, calling for the Youth Contract to be extended and for greater support for young entrepreneurs and apprentices.

"We also want to see more emphasis on career guidance and mentoring for students so school leavers can make well informed choices.

"Youth unemployment is a slow burn social disaster so it's right that despite money being tight the Coalition Government is prioritising getting young people back into work, education or training.

"We simply can't afford to lose the skills and talent of a generation."

Conference also called for a number of reforms aimed at improving the democratic accountability of the EU, such as:

1. Ending the wasteful maintenance of the second seat of the European Parliament at Strasbourg
2. Respecting the principle of subsidiarity
3. Effective oversight of EU funds spent by national governments

Commenting, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Policy Committee on International Affairs, Martin Horwood said:

"Liberal Democrats believe we are stronger together and weaker apart. In an increasingly globalised world, the voice of the UK is stronger when we are standing with our European allies.

"The EU is not a perfect organisation and it needs reform to be more effective. It is clear that the EU needs to be more focused on jobs and prosperity and improve its democratic accountability.

"Liberal Democrats believe that the UK needs to be at the forefront of this movement for reform to improve the EU. It is in our national interest to have a strong, vibrant economy as our neighbours as millions of jobs depend on it."