2009 Opportunities Must Be Grasped (Exeter Liberal Democrats)

Exeter Liberal Democrats <info@exeterlibdems.org.uk>

2009 Opportunities Must Be Grasped

January 1, 2009 9:00 AM

Graham Oakes Lib Dem Candidate for Exeter

Exeter's Liberal Democrat PPC Graham Oakes has described 2009 as the year of opportunities. "Over the past few months the economic situation around the world has worsened and the government can only influence, rather than control its effects. However it has also created opportunities for change, opportunities to make Britain a fairer country, opportunities that must be embraced."

"Twelve months ago I talked about my hopes that in 2008 Britain would become fairer and more principled. I called for the government to stop tolerating torture by our allies and to punish any British citizen who carries it out. Our Government and our local MP did nothing."

"I called for people of all faiths and beliefs to be treated equally and diversity celebrated. We need to ensure people want to come here to work or to visit, not to plant bombs. Again our Government has failed to act and our MP remains silent."

"I called for Government and our MP to act to restore belief in the democratic process so damaged by the debacle of the unitary issue. Again the Government and our MP fail."

"Scrapping ID cards and spending the money on fighting crime was also ignored by the Government and our MP."

"And they failed my final test or re balancing local government funding so that South west councils are not penalised and money diverted elsewhere, a practice stated by the Tories but, to their shame, continued under Labour. The Government and our MP let down Exeter again"

"This year I want them to act on all the above, these problems remain and must be tackled but I'm adding a new challenge. In 2009 this Labour Government and our Labour MP must redistribute wealth - not as they have done over the past 10 years, from the low earners to the rich - Robin Hood in reverse - but now that the obscenity of the practices in the City of London have been revealed for all to see they must act to create a fairer Britain. The Government must raise the staring point at which people start paying Income Tax to bring it in line with the adult level of the Minimum Wage. This will give a much needed cash boost to pensioners and to low earners and will also boost the economy. It should be funded not by borrowing but closing the tax loopholes exploited by some companies and by new graduated tax rates starting at £70,000."

"In 2009 I hope this Government and our MP will look after the majority of people in this country and stop giving preference to their wealthy dinner party guests from the City and banks".