Lib Dems penny on income tax to save NHS

The Liberal Democrats have announced they would plug funding gaps for the English NHS and social care by putting a penny on income tax, in their first major manifesto commitment of the election campaign. This is the party’s flagship spending commitment and its first major policy announcement for the election. At least 70% of Brits would happily pay an extra 1p in every pound if that money was guaranteed to go to the NHS, an ITV poll found last October. There will be a consequential increase in the health component of the Scottish and Welsh budget settlements. However, pressure on the Welsh government will be needed to ensure that all the money is directed towards health, bearing in mind the cuts imposed by the Plaid Cymru/Labour "One Wales" government between 2007 and 2011.