Lib Dems in Broadland Challenge Local Conservatives on the Economy

4.52.12pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Oct 2008

LIBERAL Democrats in Broadland have thrown down the gauntlet to the Conservatives after their conference and demanded answers to questions about the economy.

Leading the charge for the local Liberal Democrats is April Pond, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Broadland. April said that with the credit crunch biting hard, residents in Broadland have a right to know what the Conservatives would do to restore the economy to health.

"The credit crunch started last year but so far, the Conservatives have said a lot about how badly the economy is going, and very little about how they want the economy restored to health," said April Pond.

"If the Tories want credibility on the economy, they should tell us how they would handle this crisis. Broadland residents are being hit hard on all fronts at the moment, and they are understandably worried about everything which affects basic living costs - I have heard nothing from the Conservatives which would give anyone any confidence.

"I challenge the Conservatives in Broadland to tell us where they stand on the current problems which affect our residents, and how they would alleviate the economic crisis."

April Pond is calling for answers to the following:

Will the Conservatives make the richest pay their fair share of tax?

The only tax proposals announced by the Conservatives are to cut Inheritance Tax for millionaires, abolish Stamp Duty on shares and introduce a marriage-based tax system which would penalize widows, those escaping domestic violence and anyone else who is not married.

Will the Conservatives continue to defend the behavior of City fat-cat speculators?

The Conservatives have refused to criticize the City hedge funds, which have significantly worsened the recent financial crisis.

What do the Conservatives mean by sharing the proceeds of growth, and how will they do it in a recession?

Why have the Conservatives nothing to say about council and other social housing?

The Conservatives brought council house building effectively to an end when they were last in government. Now council housing is badly needed but the Conservatives have been silent about this.

Do the Conservatives now admit they got it wrong on Northern Rock?

The Conservatives failed to see the Northern Rock fiasco coming. When it did arrive they kept changing their position on how to deal with it. Now that other banks are facing difficulties will they continue to oppose state ownership on ideological grounds?

Why did the Conservatives ignore the dangerous boom in lending and house prices?

Whilst the Government let the boom in credit gets out of control, the Conservatives sat idly by. Now that the housing bubble has burst, the Conservatives are happy to make political capital. Their frontbencher Andrew Mitchell MP said that the economic problems besetting the country have created 'an incredibly good moment' for the Conservatives. How can taxpayers believe they will do anything to tackle the problem were they in government? (Source: ePolitix.com 26/9/08)

What is their view of house prices?

High house prices mean many people are unable to get their foot on the first rung of the property ladder. However, the Conservatives have so far failed to accept that prices needs to be more realistic. They were the first to propose a Stamp Duty holiday to get first time buyers into the market. Yet that same policy completely failed when they introduced it the last time they were in office. People did not want to buy homes which a few months later would be worth a great deal less than they paid for it.

Why do the Conservatives still support Council Tax?

The last Conservative Government introduced the unfair Council Tax in the wake of the disastrous Poll Tax. This regressive and unfair tax which hits some the poorest households hardest will still be maintained under George Osborne's plans.

April Pond said, "Residents of Norfolk are felling the pinch, and we all know it's getting worse. As the banks panic, business suffers, and with that comes further worry of possible job losses. Soundbites are not what's needed, people are looking for action and proposed action, and we have heard absolutely nothing from the Conservatives."