Today the Liberal Democrats are setting out our positive programme for the Government of Britain.
It is a programme based on fairness and opportunity.
Dignity for older people, real opportunity for our children and a fair deal for families.
It is a fully costed and affordable programme to create a fairer Britain.
I believe the British people are a fundamentally liberal people - outward looking and optimistic.
We are tolerant - generous to those in need –
We care deeply about fairness and social justice.
We value our civil liberties.
The Liberal Democrats are the real alternative at this election.
Over the course of the last parliament, the Liberal Democrats have been the real opposition – over issues like Iraq, student top-up fees, the Council Tax and compulsory ID cards – while the Conservatives have either lined up with Labour or flip-flopped.
Our manifesto sets out a vision of a Britain with quality local public services – good schools and good hospitals.
A strong, stable economy.
A Britain that celebrates diversity and provides the opportunities for each individual to make the best of their talents.
A greener Britain that lives up to its responsibilities to future generations – cleaner energy and less pollution.
That is why we have called this manifesto ‘The Real Alternative’.
Our programme for government would mean:
An end to student tuition fees – because access to education should be based on the ability to learn – not on the ability to pay.
Free personal care for the elderly – help with things like washing and feeding for people with long term illnesses – just as in Scotland where we’ve got Liberal Democrat government ministers.
An end to the unfair Council tax – because the amount you pay locally should be based on the amount you earn.
Our programme for government would mean:
Lower class sizes - with 21,000 new primary school teachers to give our children a decent start.
10,000 more police out on the beat – cutting crime and the fear of crime.
Better pensions - £100 on the basic state pension for the over 75s, who are the poorest and most vulnerable of our pensioners. Our Citizen’s pension for the over 75s will, for the first time, give all women a full basic pension by right, addressing a scandal which has been ignored far too long.
We will end the hidden NHS waiting lists – with faster diagnosis so that if you are ill, treatment can start quickly.
And we will cut unfair charges in the NHS. That will mean free eye and dental checks and lower prescription charges.
Our programme for Government is based on sound costings.
We publish details of our fair tax policies with this manifesto – and show where we will transfer existing Government spending to priority policies.
We say no to hidden taxes.
We have only one tax raising measure which will fund three key priorities.
In order to end student tuition fees, provide free personal care for the elderly and reduce local taxes, the one percent of people earning over £100,000 a year will pay a new top rate of tax – a marginal rate of 50p – less than the equivalent people were paying under the majority of the period Mrs Thatcher was Prime Minister.
99% of people will not pay more tax under this proposal – but the benefits will be for 100% of people.
Our other priorities described in this programme for government will be funded by spending £5bn a year of existing money differently.
This means for example no compulsory Identity Cards, no Child Trust Fund, and cuts in unnecessary quangos, programmes and government department functions.
In their place you will get better pensions, more police, and lower class sizes.
These are our priorities, and I believe they match the priorities of the people of Britain.
We are a party of fair taxation.
We say local taxation should be based on how much you earn.
Our Local Income Tax, that will replace the unfair Council Tax, is a tax cutting measure. Its overall burden will be less than the overall burden of the unfair council tax. In every town, city and constituency, local people overall will pay less than they do today under Council Tax.
And because it is based on ability to pay it will deliver lower tax bills to 15 million families according to the independent Institute of Fiscal Studies.
A typical household will be £450 better off.
And 6 million pensioners will pay no local tax at all.
Through all our thinking there is a thread of environmental awareness and urgency.
This manifesto contains green policies in every area of government.
The reality of climate change is with us here and now.
Time is not on our side.
It is wrong that this issue simply does not feature more prominently in the priorities of the Labour and Conservative parties.
And our instinctive internationalism means positive and proactive engagement through international institutions such as the United Nations and the Commonwealth – to tackle poverty and disease, to encourage good government and sustainable development, and to secure a peaceful and stable world.
Britain’s national interest too demands constructive engagement in the European Union.
But we reject a foreign policy based on ‘my ally right or wrong’.
And we say that war should always be a last resort.
Many people will remember the principled and consistent Liberal Democrat opposition to the war in Iraq - representing the views of millions of our fellow citizens.
Many people will remember that the Conservatives lined up with Tony Blair and George Bush.
During this election campaign we should all remember, that 8,000 thousand British servicemen and women are still in Iraq, 2 years after the war was officially declared over.
The men and women of our Armed Forces do not get to choose where they go to fight.
That choice is made by politicians.
But they should not become the forgotten people in this campaign.
Many of our allies are bringing their troops home from Iraq.
We need a proper exit strategy for British troops.
The objective should be a phased withdrawal of British forces at the end of this year, when the UN legal mandate expires.
It is a great privilege for me, at this General Election, to be leading the most socially progressive party in British politics.
It is a great privilege to have the opportunity to take our programme for Government to the people of Britain at this general election.
At this election we are ‘The Real Alternative’.
Ends
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