Laws confusion on Lib Dem tax policy


Laws needs to come clean on Lib Dem cuts plans

Lib Dem candidate for Yeovil slammed by Lib Dem colleagues for making up policy in TV interview




Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Yeovil, David Laws, has been exposed on national television disagreeing with the Lib Dem policy on cuts to public services.

In an exchange on Newsnight, with Jeremy Paxman, Laws stated that he wanted to see no cuts in spending on Education, Health and International Development. This is completely at odds with Lib Dem national Policy and he has been hauled over the coals by colleagues for this gaffe.

On Any Questions on Radio 4 (26 March 2010) Vince Cable said "David Laws is wrong".

On the Daily Politics (25 March 2010) Lord Oakeshott (Lib Dem Treasury Spokesman said "David Laws is wrong, He was wrong on that. Vince Cable is the Spokesman. Nothing is ring-fenced and that is quite clear."


Kevin Davis said: 'Labour have been dishonest with us over their spending plans but now David Laws seems to want to hide from the people of the Yeovil Constituency his parties desire to slash spending on schools, health and overseas aid. He cannot have it both ways. He needs to come clean and tell us what he favours, savage Lib Dem cuts or supporting the Conservative position to ring-fence spending on health and aid. We all know there will be cuts but after all the sleaze on expenses we need to see politicians being honest with voters, not take David Laws' position and misleading us."

Ends
27 March 2010



Notes to editors

Exchange on Newnight 10 March 2010

Jeremy Paxman: if you formed a govt there would be no cuts in education?

 David Laws: Absolutely. We have said not only no cuts in education but that we would move money in from other departments.

 Michael Gove: would there be cuts in other departments, International Development or the NHS?

 David Laws: we have said with the NHS that we would seek savings to deploy within the NHS not outside.

 Michael Gove: So the NHS budget is ringfenced as well?

 David Laws: [Nods] “that is right, yes” [Paxman speaks over]

Michael Gove: And International Development

David Laws: As it is with the Conservatives.

                (Newsnight, 10 March 2010)

 

This is at odds with statements previously made by Vince Cable and Nick Clegg. Vince Cable had previously said that there should be no ring-fencing:

 

‘There should be no “ring fenced” areas of spending.’

(Vince Cable, ‘Tackling the fiscal crisis: A recovery plan for the UK’, Reform, September 2009).

 

And Nick Cable said there was a need for ‘savage’ cuts in spending:

 

‘In some cases we will be quite bold, or even savage, on current spending, precisely to be able to retain spending where you need it in areas where the economy is weak in infrastructure.’

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