John
04-14-2010, 05:14 PM
The Liberal Democrats have launched their General Election manifesto, pledging to build a fairer Britain if elected on May 6.
The 109-page document promises fairer taxes, economic reform, a £2.5 billion pupil premium for the poorest children and sweeping constitutional change including a new electoral system.
The party also pledges to boost the pay of the lowest ranking members of the Armed Forces to bring them into line with the starting salary of their emergency services counterparts.
Under the manifesto commitments, prison inmates would be forced to work and contribute to a compensation fund for victims. In his foreword to the document, party leader Nick Clegg said the Lib Dems will "sort out our rotten political system once and for all" if successful at the election.
With opinion polls suggesting the possibility of a hung Parliament, Mr Clegg claimed a vote for the Lib Dems could spell the end of the political "stitch-up" between Labour and the Tories which has lasted since the Second World War.
The policy programme, launched in the City of London, is built around "four steps to a fairer Britain".
These are fair taxes, including the promise to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £10,000, paid for by closing loopholes exploited by the wealthy, as well as a shake-up of the education system, cutting class sizes and targeting £2.5 billion at struggling pupils;
Economic reform, including breaking up the giant banks, separating their investment and High Street operations, investment in infrastructure and "honesty" about the "tough choices" to cut the
The 109-page document promises fairer taxes, economic reform, a £2.5 billion pupil premium for the poorest children and sweeping constitutional change including a new electoral system.
The party also pledges to boost the pay of the lowest ranking members of the Armed Forces to bring them into line with the starting salary of their emergency services counterparts.
Under the manifesto commitments, prison inmates would be forced to work and contribute to a compensation fund for victims. In his foreword to the document, party leader Nick Clegg said the Lib Dems will "sort out our rotten political system once and for all" if successful at the election.
With opinion polls suggesting the possibility of a hung Parliament, Mr Clegg claimed a vote for the Lib Dems could spell the end of the political "stitch-up" between Labour and the Tories which has lasted since the Second World War.
The policy programme, launched in the City of London, is built around "four steps to a fairer Britain".
These are fair taxes, including the promise to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £10,000, paid for by closing loopholes exploited by the wealthy, as well as a shake-up of the education system, cutting class sizes and targeting £2.5 billion at struggling pupils;
Economic reform, including breaking up the giant banks, separating their investment and High Street operations, investment in infrastructure and "honesty" about the "tough choices" to cut the