Liberal Democrats pledge financial discipline

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 13th Apr 2005

On a visit to one of Bath's most successful small businesses, Computer Village, Don Foster has set out his party's commitment to promote a liberal and fair economy.

Commenting, Don Foster said:

"Small businesses like Computer Village are a driving force behind our economy but too often are weighed down by over-regulation and a complex tax system.

"Lib Dems will simply the tax system and regularly review red tape to ensure small businesses are helped, not restricted by Government.

"By scrapping unnecessary burdens, such as the Department of Trade and Industry, that consume wealth rather than create it, we will create a new, more vibrant business environment.

"Liberal Democrat economic policy is financially rigorous, and is one of economic freedom, and of social justice. We want fairer taxation and the sound investment of taxpayers' money in the priorities that matter most to the people of Britain.

"The sums add up and the books are balanced.

"We have been explicit about the need to cut low priority programmes to pay for our priorities including higher pensions, 10,000 more police and lower class sizes. And on taxation we have always been straightforward and honest.

"By scrapping Council Tax and replacing it with a Local Income Tax a typical family would be better off by £450 a year.

"We are proposing only one tax raising measure for the highest one per cent of earners to pay for the abolition of student fees, free personal care and cuts in local tax. We believe these current charges are unfair, as do the vast majority of the British public.

Computer Village's, Vernon Creed, said:

"For our business to thrive we need stability and freedom. The Liberal Democrats offer both. But the Conservatives would put our currently strong economy in jeopardy by their false dreams of claiming to be able to spend more on public services, while at the same time cutting taxes.

"We all know that can't be done and if they were running a business along those lines they'd get themselves into trouble pretty quickly."