Paul Waugh on PoliticsHome gives three examples where the LibDems “put the brakes on” Conservative policy aspirations in just three hours yesterday morning:
First, Danny Alexander chucked a large bucket of cold water over Tory hopes of abolishing the 50p tax rate, saying:
It’s very very important indeed that we continue to ensure that the wealthiest in society pay a fair contribution. That’s what the 50p rate is doing. We’ll see what the numbers show; I expect it is making money for the Government.
…Well, he’s in a good position to know.
Second, on Sunday AM, Francis Maude raised the spectre of increasing strike ballot thresholds. Within an hour, Danny Alexander, more or less, kiboshed that one, saying that, although the situation was under review, changing the law was “not the main response to these strikes”.
Third, the Beecroft “fire at will” plans. Vince Cable is clearly not in favour and, yesterday morning, received backing from that arch “One Nation” Tory, Lord Heseltine.
“Tarzan” said that no business worth its salt should be making investment decisions based on whether it could fire more people. He added that it is not sensible for the coalition to be seen to be attacking workers in a downturn:
You don’t want to make life rougher and tougher for large numbers of people you want to vote for you.
Paul Waugh concludes:
No wonder many Conservative backbenchers are frustrated.
You can read the full post here.
Paul Walter blogs at Liberal Burblings
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11 Comments
Some examples of extreme tory policies being supported by the lib dems that no real liberal would ever support:
Underwriting 95% sub-prime mortgages with taxpayers’ money to keep land values artificially inflated.
Flogging off publically owned assets (council houses) at 50% of their value in order to bribe voters.
“It’s very very important indeed that we continue to ensure that the wealthiest in society pay a fair contribution.”
It’s very very important that we start doing just that. Unfortunately, “the wealthiest in society” avoid income tax altogether – which in any case is passed on in the cost of goods and services, impacting mostly on the poor.
“That’s what the 50p rate is doing.”
No it isn’t Danny.
“Exteme”? Really? wrong or misguided maybe but “extreme”? The last Labour government wasn’t extreme for having a top rate of 40p was it? Can we please grow up?
Umm. I think you may have slipped on this one.
50p Tax – he hasn’t said it won’t happen, he has said that we need to wait for the numbers. If the numbers don’t stack up will LD MPs block it or will they go with an evidence based approach?
Strike Ballot Thresholds – “more or less, kiboshed that one” – so he hasn’t actually blocked it yet and although it may not be the “main” response, is it possible that it will be a secondary one?
“fire at will” – So you’re having to rely on a Conservative to nudge something in the direction you’d like?
Not up to your usual standards really Paul.
@chris_sh Please note I was basically quoting/paraphrasing a Paul Waugh PoliticsHome article, not stating my own interpretation.
@DoubleDip If you’d like to enter a valid email address on your comments, I can explain why they are being rejected as per the Comments Policy for this site.
How unfortunate that on this day Vince Cable bowed meekley to the CBI and Tory Business owners regards the demolotion of workers rights. This negates any argument that may have been valid. Everyone of the measures Vince has rubberstamped have the right wing press wringing their hands. Get real Vince. Making workers less secure in their jobs will not in any shape or form stimulate growth. The same people who have won the smashing of workers rightsa re the same people who told us the minimum wage would lead to rack and ruin. Shame on you Vince and the Lib Dems, this is a shocking lurch to the right and an out and out appeasment of the Bosses by a totally inept coalition partner.
Vince said he was minded to look at bosses pay, but while he dithers about that he launmches an out and out attack on ordinary working folk. Disgrace
@Ivan “demolotion of workers rights” ?
Yes Paul. How can you seriously say that the Lib Dems have tackled Tory extremisim when you have Vince attacking workers rights by making it easier to sack employees? Have a look at the comments on this story in the Daily Mail article today. Even though that bastion of the right wing supports Vinces proposals, the vast majority of commentators are against it.
Paul, How can erroding the already meager rights of workers in this country help anyone but the bosses? This is capitulation by Vince to the lobbyists of the conservative right wing. There is no other way of dressing this up. I am always willing to give the Lib Dems time to assert themselves in the coalition. Vince has got this all wrong. Making people less secure in work will lead them to understandbly reducing their spending just in case.
IOt was not ordinary workers who got us here. This is a totally unneeded change to the empolyment laws. It will not create a single job, no evidence of this has been produced. This headline frm todays Telegraph shows how contriodactory Vince has become:
“Business Secretary Vince Cable today insisted he would not create an environment in which people feared for their jobs as he prepared to announce measures that will make it easier for companies to sack their staff. ”
Says it all really Paul. What are your thoughts on Lib Dems taming the Tories now ?
Oh dear. I am one of those really boring people who want to read the document first. How boring am I? It’s a consultation. One of its aims, which you appear to have missed, is to better enable firms to take on new staff. I wonder how you missed that?
No need for your flippant answer Paul. I read your posts and I can see you are an intelligent man. However, I cannot understand how you could possibly think that making it easier to sack existing staff will allow firms to take on more staff, its madness. The best you could hope for is a merry go round with no extra staff being taken on. This is an out and out right wing Tory policy. You cant dress it up any other way.
Making jobs less secure will not lead to firms taking on more staff. It will give the green light to explotitive bosses to abuse this proposal. As I said earlier Paul, the same lobbyists said the minimum wage would decimate the british economy, absolute bull, just as saying making it easier to fire people will create jobs. There is no evidence of this, please think about how this will effect ordinary working people and how the bosses and Tory right are gloating…
Ivan
Give me a chance old boy. I have now read Vince’s speech and set out a summary here:
https://www.libdemvoice.org/vince-cable-sets-out-employment-law-consultation-to-establish-culture-of-dialogue-not-confrontation-25962.html