A Fresh Start For Britain

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 9th Aug 2009

Nick Clegg

The Liberal Democrats have released a document labelled 'A Fresh Start For Britain' which provides the party's priorities and main challenges that should be tackled immediately.

It states that it would be utterly dishonest to claim to know what the next Government will be able to afford and that cuts will be necessary to deliver any priorities. It goes on to say that any new spending will be paid for by a specific cut made elsewhere meaning that there will not be an increase in overall public spending. Tax cuts to help those on low and middle incomes will not be funded by cuts in services, but by making taxes fairer and greener.

The Short-term priority is to fight growing unemployment which requires maintaining government spending. However we must be strict and disciplined over public spending to reduce borrowing.

Areas identified for savings:

• The Centralised State: Remove bureaucracy and reduce quangos

• Defence Procurement: There should be no like for like replacement of Trident

• Public Sector Pensions: We will honour all commitments already made but examine ways to keep future obligations under tighter control

• Higher Education: Need to make admissions fairer and do not believe that target of 50% of young people going to university is achievable or affordable

• Tax Credits: As they extend to high earners it fails to put the resources where they are needed. Need to simplify the system

Priorities:

Creating a Sustainable Economy

Putting Britain back into work and fighting climate change and enforcing a new approach to banking, for example, split up the biggest banks so that high risk casino banking does not put people's savings at risk

Building a Fair Society

Fairer taxes to lift the burden on ordinary people (4 million more people won low incomes will pay no income tax under our plans).

Giving every child the very best start in life as action in the earliest years is vital (cut class sizes for example)

Cleaning up Politics

Reform expenses, end big donations, elect the House of Lords, cut the power of Ministers, reduce the number of MPs and give local people the right to sack any MP who's found guilty of serious wrong doing.

End the culture of 'Safe Seats'.

If you agree that we need an open and honest debate about the future contact us now to help give a "Fresh start for Britain"