South Dorset Liberal Democrats

EMERGENCY BUDGET

Vince Cable

LIB DEMS ENSURE PROTECTION OF POOR & THOSE ON LOWER INCOMES IN BUDGET ENSHRINING OUR MANIFESTO COMMITMENTS

This a coalition budget reflects the determination of the government to act decisively but in a way that has fairness at its heart.

Labour has left the public finances in a catastrophic state. We have no choice but to act decisively now or we will be forced into it later by the markets. The pain will be much greater and the costs of servicing our debt will directly hit our ability to protect public services.

Although the budget contains many difficult decisions, fairness is hardwired into it.

Every other significant fiscal contraction has hit the poorest hardest. This budget protects the poorest and ensures that the impacts are fairly spread. Key measures to ensure fairness include:

• Increasing the tax allowance by £1,000 as part of the plan to deliver a personal allowance of £10,000. This will take 880,000 low income earners out of tax altogether.
• A banking levy to ensure that banks contribute to restoring the public finances
• Increase in CGT to 28% to prevent tax evasion. This is at about the highest level before the Treasury estimates you start losing revenue.
• Restoring the earnings link for pensioners. Labour had 13 years to do this but failed - one of the first actions of the Coalition is to deliver on this.
• £2 billion a year increase in the child element of the child tax credit which means that despite the tough decisions in the budget, there will be no increase in child poverty (unlike under Labour)

DETAIL:

Key Coalition Achievements

Helping low and middle income earners

Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister & Vince Cable, Business secretary

As we promised in our manifesto and our coalition agreement we are raising the income tax threshold. Today we have taken the first step to lifting it to £10,000 a year by increasing the threshold by £1,000 to £7,475k a year, which will give 23 million low and middle income earners up to £190 back in their pocket to spend. This measure will take 880,000 people out of income tax altogether.

Those with the broadest shoulders bear the heaviest burden

As we promised in both our manifesto and our coalition agreement we are ensuring that the wealthier pay their fair share. We are increasing the rate of Capital Gains Tax to 28% for higher rate taxpayers while keeping it at 18% for basic rate taxpayers. In line with the Coalition Agreement we are also increasing Entrepreneurs Relief from £2m to £5m. There will be no indexation and no taper relief- these only complicate the tax system. This will raise an extra £1bn and end the disgraceful situation of bankers paying a lower rate of tax than their cleaners.

Securing a fair deal for Pensioners

As we promised in our manifesto we are introducing a 'triple lock' to protect pensioners. In future pensions will rise with the higher of earnings, 2.5% or inflation. This year because RPI will be higher than CPI it will rise with RPI, in future the inflation measure will be CPI. The standard minimum income guarantee in Pension Credit will be increased in line with RPI this year so that the poorest pensioners receive the full benefit of the rise in the Basic State Pension. We believe that it is only fair that pensioners are guaranteed a decent pension from the state on which to live.

Tackling Child Poverty

We believe that every child deserves a fair star in life. And this budget keeps a commitment to tackling child poverty in meaningful way. Despite this Budget representing an unprecedented fiscal consolidation the Coalition Government has taken action to ensure that there is no measurable impact on child poverty. This has been achieved by committing a further £2bn in to the Child Element of tax credits. The coalition also remains committed to introducing the Pupil Premium - which will give more money to the pupils and schools that need it the most.

The Environment

We believe that climate change is one of the most serious threats that the world faces and the Coalition Government has pledged to make this the greenest government ever. The Coalition Government is committed to:

o providing the right incentives for low carbon investment. The Government will publish proposals in the autumn to reform the climate change levy in order to provide more certainty and support to the carbon price;

o creating a Green Investment Bank. Detailed proposals of which will be provided after the Spending Review; and

o establishing the Green Deal for households, to help individuals invest in home energy efficiency improvements that can pay for themselves from the savings in energy bills.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander

Re-balancing the economy

The Coalition Budget introduces a bank levy (based on balance sheet size), which will raise £2.5bn a year. It is only fair that that the banks pay their fair share back to the taxpayers who helped bail them out. This will contribute to tax cuts for all other types of business. Corporation tax will be cut from 28% to 24%, over 4 years, with 1% cut each year. The small companies rate will not rise to 22% in April 2009 as proposed by Labour, instead it will be cut to 20%.