Liberal Democrat policy in Lancashire

The third of our political comments looking at what is being offered at the General Election. What will the LibDems do in the Preston region and what are their policies. 

 The Liberal Democrats got quite a good percentage of the vote overall at the last election but in our voting system the number of seats is no-where near representative. Although you can say that for the Conservatives as well who polled almost as many votes as Labour.   The LibDems will support change to the system, it’s in their interest, and the election after this one should be the target, unless it’s in 4 months.

Reading the LD policies on their website there are some good ideas. Although I don’t find any mention of the opinions frequently expressed by senior party members that seem to effect the biggest wealth generators in our area.  For example Sir Menzies Campbell, Norman Lamb and Vince Cable frequently express strong distate about the defence and nuclear industry and conflicts in general. Although don’t we all, but to different degrees.  It isn’t known what exactly they would do if they had any mandate as their website isn’t very precise on defence. It says:

‘Move away from a Cold War-style posture towards a more relevant armed forces structure. If we are to continue to have the capability to be a force for good in the world we need far greater cooperation with our NATO and EU partners. Liberal Democrats do not believe that the UK can afford the billions of pounds the Government wants to spend on a like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system We believe that less expensive alternatives should be considered.’

Noting the word ‘considered’ which isn’t ruling anything out including keeping Trident, although that seems unlikely.  I’d be surprised if the RAF and Trident survived without big cuts.  To be fair George Osborne also hinted at RAF cuts on Typhoon.  The case for Trident includes that other countries are moving towards nuclear options, international security has a tendency to sudden change faster than our defences can change, the nuclear option provides an ultimate deterrent and greater influence in the world not only in defence but well into the ‘food’ and status chain, a joint European force with France and reducing dependance are interesting options.

The LibDem defence policy makes me immediately quite hostile but the rest of their policies have some interest.  From their website:

‘Raise the threshold at which people start paying income tax from current levels to £10,000, cutting the average working age person’s income tax bill by £700 and cutting pensioner’s income tax bills by £100. These plans will mean that almost 4 million people on low incomes will no longer have to pay any income tax at all.’

  It seems ridiculous to pay tax when you’re on the minimum wage and I’ve long thought this LibDem policy their best and I’d expect them to do it without caveat unlike the other parties.

‘Liberal Democrats are the only party which believes university education should be free and everyone who has the ability should be able to go to university and not be put off by the cost.’

Doesn’t actually say they’ll make it free though and the term ‘who has the ability’ is adaptable. That the UK should have universities that equal the best in the world is required as well and this needs a lot of money.

‘Drive a massive programme of investment in renewable energy sources such as wind, wave and solar. We will also transform the National Grid into a smart decentralised grid which will respond dynamically to the changing patterns of energy demand.’

 No nuclear station at Heysham perhaps, will the hills be alive with the sound of windmills.  This could be a very expensive policy.

‘Unlike the Conservatives we oppose all airport expansion serving London and the South East and so would block expansion at Stansted and Gatwick as well.’

Not really relevant to round here except it isn’t clear how this will effect the UK’s prosperity if decision makers for example find it easier to go to Paris and Amsterdam to do international business. The thought-to-be over-paid people are the ones who place 1,000’s of jobs so we need them here.

‘We will scrap central targets and guarantee that you get your treatment on time. We will give people the power to stop hospital closures in their area through elected local health boards.’

 Laudable, although I had a course of serious treatment and the doctor assured me that the target setting would ensure I got the speedy treatment I was asking for, so I’ve never been sure about people making statements against targets.

In conclusion a selection of policies for a kindly Britain making fair and decent decisions in a world that in general doesn’t regard fairness or decency too high a requirement.  This doesn’t sound like it will work for me.  I have a fear of being part of something  that is too decent to know they’ve been had.