Rosalyn Harper Supports Lib Dem Manifesto

1.53.12pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Oct 2004

Rosalyn Harper, Surrey Heath Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson, was delighted to support the 'Top Ten' Liberal Democrat manifesto pledges which were launched at the Party's Conference.

"This manifesto is relevant to EVERY resident of Surrey Heath and Liberal Democrats are very happy to explain how it will be funded - unlike the Conservatives who are quite unwilling to explain their funding plans."

The Manifesto points are:

Charles Kennedy Presents the Manifesto to the Autumn Conference

· Put patients first - Free doctors and nurses from

Whitehall meddling

· Free personal care when you need it - No one forced

to sell their home to pay for care

· No tuition fees, no top-up fees - University affordable

for every student

· More investment in children's early years - Spend the

£1 billion Child Trust Fund when it matters most

· 10,000 more police on the streets - Cutting crime and

the fear of crime

· £25 more on the pension every week at 75 - A million

pensioners off means testing

· Free off-peak local transport - for all pensioners and

disabled people

· Axe the Council Tax - Local Income Tax is both fair

and affordable

· We should not have gone to war in Iraq - It' time to

restore trust in the Government

· Take the environment seriously - Cut pollution, cut

congestion, boost renewable energy

The draft manifesto commitments will be funded in two specific ways. The Liberal Democrats will switch £5 billion per year away (£25 billion over the course of a Parliament, i.e. approximately 1% of Government spending) from low priorities to fund Liberal Democrat priority programmes such as pensions, policing and health.

By introducing a 50% rate on every pound earned over £100,000 the Liberal Democrats will fund just three policies.

a) Abolition of tuition and top-up fees

b) Introduction of free personal care for the elderly

c) Hold down local taxes, as we introduce Local Income Tax

Rosalyn Harper concluded: "This is a dynamic, down to earth programme which every Surrey Heath resident will be able to support and it is put forward by a party which is gaining ground dramatically. In contrast, the Tories are still groping around for a vision and are terrified of explaining to the electorate how they would pay for their rag-bag policies and so-called tax cutting programme."