Liberal Democrats strong on ecology

A vote for Lib Dems this Thursday is a vote to:

The big decision

Why the country needs more Liberal Democrat MPs and votes

Logically, the proposition is unanswerable. Liberal Democrats have cooperated in a government which has not only restored international credibility to the United Kingdom but also started the readjustment of the economy so that it is no longer totally dependent on the caprices of the money market. We have restored civil liberties. The sackings of the years following the credit failure of 2008 have been more than reversed, more jobs being created in the private sector than the public. We have lifted the tax threshold of millions of people while still narrowing the gap between government expenditure and income.

People have suffered in that time (let us avoid the mealy-mouthed "tough decisions had to be made") but we are now in a position to restore fairness to both benefits and public service pay without increasing the deficit again. We can rebut our opponents' recurring gibe, that our promises are unrealistic because we have no recent experience of government. Not only have we had ministers in the Treasury, with access to "the books", but virtually all the constructive achievements of the coalition - on pensions, apprenticeships, investment in the railways, the Green Investment Bank, stopping the post office closure programme - are down to Liberal Democrat ministers. (There were many more things which we persuaded the government to accept. 32 of them are listed here.)  All our manifestos in the past have been rigorously costed, but at last we are able to provide supporting evidence for that fact.

But emotion and traditional loyalties play a large part in voters' decisions. There is no doubt that in certain quarters merely discussing common problems with Conservatives is equivalent to supping with the devil. To actually go into government with Conservatives clearly alienated many, including some within our own party. It is clearly going to colour opinion.

People forget the situation in 2010, though. Greece, Portugal, Spain and (most worryingly as an economy similar to our own) Italy were at varying levels of financial meltdown. Their government bonds all at times approached or achieved "junk" status. There were riots and unstable governments. So there was a need to show that there would be stable government for the term of a parliament, even though the constituent parts of that government were traditional enemies. For the alternative, see what has happened to France in that time.

Domestically, Labour had indulged in a number of expensive schemes of doubtful benefit or hope of successful completion. There were the PFI schemes which continue to burden the English NHS and which would have (until the coalition caught most of them) formed the backbone of the Building Schools for the Future programme as Labour belatedly addressed the backlog of school replacement in England. There was the over-ambitious NHS IT scheme. There was the massive centralised identity database which was officially estimated at £5.6bn but which unofficial estimates put at between £12bn and £18bn.

That was not only badly designed but would also have set civil liberties back over sixty years. It was a Liberal then who prodded a Conservative government into the overdue abolition of the wartime identity card scheme. It was a coalition of libertarians in the Conservative ranks with Liberal Democrats who laid to rest Labour's ID cards in 2010. We also ended the imprisonment of innocent children, arbitrary stop and search powers and the ability of the police to arrest anyone taking photographs near a public building. Sadly, Conservative ministers have regressed since the early days of the coalition and Liberal Democrats have worked hard to resist such intrusions as the Communication Data Bill.

Contrary to Labour claims, the rich are paying more in percentage terms than the poor under the coalition, but of course the rich hardly feel it because their disposable income is continuing to grow.

I would be more sensitive to gibes from Labour about "tax cuts for millionaires" if Gordon Brown hadn't maintained the Thatcher/Lawson top rate of tax of 40p for all but a few days of Labour's administration; if when Alistair Darling took over the chancellorship he hadn't signalled that his 50p rate was only temporary; if having announced the 50p rate he delayed implementing it for a year, giving tax lawyers plenty of time to put avoidance schemes in place; and if, when in opposition, they hadn't sacked the chancellor who at long last brought some sanity back to government spending and replaced him with the team that had given Gordon Brown such bad advice in the first place.

Incidentally, that 2009/10 tax holiday, coupled with a temporary dip in world fuel prices, may well have produced the spurt in economic activity which briefly increased GDP and gave Labour spurious evidence for their claim that they had got the economy on the mend "without the need for austerity".
The last part ignores the fact that the cuts in the coalition's first budget were inherited from Darling. (Admittedly, Osborne increased VAT by more than Darling's proposal: to 20% as against 19%.) We also fought to ease austerity where we could.

So to protect our civil rights from both Labour and the increasingly vocal authoritarians in the Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats need to be there in force in the next parliament. We also need to be there to maintain sensible economic policies, paying for fairness in the benefits system not by increased borrowing but by fair taxation of the rich and by tackling the tax loopholes that both Labour and the Conservatives have avoided closing.

If not us, who?


- Frank Little, Secretary, Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats

Blast from the past: Nick Clegg on Andrew Marr show

This post from two years ago reminds us how Balls and Miliband have flip-flopped over the need for government cuts:

Liberal Democrats have been accused by Labour of propping up the Conservatives and worse, but Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister reminds us:

Nearly two years ago, Liberal Democrats chose to do the right thing in the national interest at a time of crisis. We put tribalism aside and the good of the country first.

We didn’t come into politics to make cuts, but with the economy on the verge of collapse we knew we had to take the difficult decisions necessary to get the deficit under control and the country back on track.

And how did the Labour Party react?

They attacked us viciously. They refused to apologise or take responsibility for the mess they created. They opposed every cut and they indulged in cynical scaremongering.

In Sheffield, David Blunkett warned of ‘post-Soviet’ meltdown with people fending for themselves. It was the politics of fear and it was a disgrace.

But now, after nearly two years of opposing every cut, Ed Miliband and Ed Balls say they won’t reverse a single one. Yet they still say they oppose them.

Confused?

They have gone from being in the wrong place to being all over the place. From denial to disarray.

Many of our excellent councillors and members of the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies lost their seats last May [2012] because of the vicious attacks of their Labour opponents. They must not get away with it again.

Liberal Democrats approach this May’s elections with a track record of proud, progressive achievements in Government:

Lifting a million of the poorest workers out of tax and cutting taxes, not for the rich but for 23m basic rate taxpayers;

Making the well off pay their share by raising Capital Gains Tax, a new £10bn bank levy* and keeping the 50p top rate of tax;

The most generous rise in the state pension for a generation;

A revolution in the way we support the children who need help the most when it matters the most, in the crucial early years and throughout their school lives;

More apprenticeships than Britain has ever had before;

And from this April, the Youth Contract, an ambitious £1bn programme to make sure every 18 to 24-year-old has the opportunity to earn or learn.

You can see Nick's interview by Andrew Marr here.

*which is making HSBC wince, while the bank seems quite happy with Labour's bankers bonus tax. FHL, 2015-05-05

Liberal Democrats take mental health seriously

Girlies' manifesto

One for the little lady, as the Pub Landlord might say:

Labour did not, Conservatives on their own would not

The Lib Dems have fought hard to get bankers and tax avoiders to pay their due

LibDems insist on public sector pay justice

The Liberal Democrats will make pay increases for public sector workers a priority in any coalition talks.

After five years of pay restraint, teachers, nurses, police officers and all those who work in the public sector should no longer face pay cuts and will be offered light at the end of the tunnel.

The contribution of our public sector workers is the cornerstone of a fair and decent society.

Public sector workers have played an important role in helping get the economy on track and Liberal Democrats want to give them the pay guarantee they need.

We would introduce a minimum pay increase in line with inflation for the next two years, and guarantee real terms increases in pay once the books have been balanced.

This means a nurse on £25,000 would receive a minimum pay increase of £350, a police officer on £30,000 would receive £490 and a teacher on £35,000 would get at least £490 over the first two years.

Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats say:

“Liberal Democrats will not enter a coalition with a party not prepared to back pay rises for people working in the public sector.

“They have paid more than their fair share, and now enough is enough.

“The work they do is the cornerstone of a fair and decent society. We have a moral obligation to support them, and protect the services they provide.

“Jobs and pay are under threat from the Conservatives. They want to embark on a slash and burn approach to the public sector. And Labour’s failure to deal with the economy, allowing austerity to drag on, will prolong pay restraint for many years to come.

“Public sector workers have made enough sacrifices to help our country get back on track. Only Liberal Democrat MPs can guarantee an end to further cuts to pay.”

Worth repeating

Manifesto in British Sign Language

The Liberal Democrats have produced a series of 20 videos giving snippets of our manifesto in BSL. We are the first major party to do so. The full list is here.

Financial Times endorses a coalition containing Liberal Democrats

 Liberal Democrat Voice reports this quote from the Financial Times:

The country would benefit from the countervailing force of Lib Dem moderation at Westminster. In seats where the Lib Dems are the incumbent or the main challenger, we would vote tactically for them.

The paper was far from complimentary about the Tories’ divisive strategy.

Five years ago, the prospect of coalition government attracted dire predictions of instability in markets and gridlock at Westminster. Neither proved true. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has shown European-style cohabitation can work. Curiously, Mr Cameron has not trumpeted its successes. He has preferred to wage a campaign of fear. Labour, he argues, would prove untrustworthy on the economy; and a Labour government would be held hostage by a separatist Scottish National party. The risk of a cross-border leftist alliance is not negligible; but even some Tories worry that its invocation encourages English nationalism.

The FT essentially wants to see a continuation of the current economic strategy which is far from being a Tory-only creation. 

It’s important to remember that we could have sat this one out. Had we not been there, the Tories would have continued with severe austerity rather than adjust it when the circumstances demanded. As George Crozier pointed out in an article on this site last week, the Liberal Democrats shaped the recovery:

For different reasons it often suits both Conservative and Labour voices to paint a picture in primary colours of undeviating adherence to Plan A. But this caricature is wrong. The reality is more nuanced and rather more Liberal Democrat. The Coalition has shown commendable flexibility, for example in reversing some of the capital spending cuts that were inherited from Labour once it became clear they were holding back the recovery. The Coalition has balanced cuts with carefully targeted stimulus. And above all it has been willing to forego substantial amounts of tax revenue and even slow the pace of austerity in order to help create jobs and encourage people to take them up.

This approach has worked. Liberal Democrat policies and influence have been at the heart of it. Three of the five key politicians deciding economic strategy in this Parliament have been Liberal Democrats. Liberal Democrats should be proud of this. It should be front and centre of our election campaign.

Head and Heart

Apology

Increasing the personal allowance is a red line

Want to know more?

Introduction to the main Liberal Democrat manifesto in BSL

People in the business of sustainables support Liberal Democrats

BBC reports that among the signatories to an open letter supporting the Liberal Democrats is the co-founder of Admiral insurance group. Heather Stevens has signed in her capacity as chair of the Waterloo Foundation.

The letter reads:

Dear Sir/Madam,

When the Coalition took office, both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats pledged to make it the 'greenest government ever'. Liberal Democrats kept to that pledge.

Under the leadership of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey, they have consistently acted to make this country cleaner, greener and more open to investment in renewables. Some £37 billion has been invested in renewable energy, supporting 460,000 jobs as of 2013, reducing our carbon emissions and improving Britain's energy security. 

From setting up Britain's first Green Investment Bank and the first Community Energy Strategy, to battling with the Treasury over critical decisions like the Levy Control Framework or the 4th Carbon Budget, the Lib Dems have an impressive record of achievements on climate change that deserves much wider recognition. The vital EU 2030 deal - that set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets across the EU - simply would not have happened without Ed Davey's personal leadership, especially through the EU Green Growth Group he established. 

We have been impressed with the determination of Liberal Democrat Ministers to fight for the environment agenda - even when they met significant resistance. Their efforts to preserve the UK's natural environment and maintain its biodiversity include planting over a million trees to investing in our coastal paths, establishing 27 Marine Conservation Zones up and down the English coastline, cleaning up over 9,700 miles of rivers and 410 square miles of lakes and estuaries, and introducing a 5p charge on plastic bags from large firms.

We also welcome the prominence the Liberal Democrats have given to these issues in their manifesto vision for the next government - notably their proposed programme of 5 Green Laws on the front page of their manifesto. With the polls showing that another hung Parliament is likely, we hope - for the sake of the battle against climate change and for our environment - that any Coalition will include the Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems can secure Britain's progress towards a clean energy future and ensure that our country will continue to play a leading international role on the green agenda.

Sincerely, 

1. Bruce Davis - Managing Director, Abundance Generation 
2. David Hempleman-Adams - Founder, Cold Climates 
3. Ray Georgeson - Director, RGR Ray Georgeson Resources Ltd 
4. Karl Harder - Managing Director, Abundance Generation 
5. Dr Mark Hinnells - Solutions Director, Susenco 
6. Cath Ibbotson - Development Director, Coriolis Energy 
7. Ben Johnstone - Consultant to Climate Change Abating Businesses 
8. Susan Juned - Director, Greenwatt Technology Solutions 
9. Harry Malyon - Development Director, Coriolis Energy 
10. Vickram Mirchandani - Managing Director, Coronation Power 
11. Dave Murray - Managing Director, Coriolos Energy 
12. Mark Petterson - Director, Warwick Energy 
13. Jeremy Sainsbury - Director, Natural Power 
14. Dr Patrick Sheehan - Founder and Managing Partner, Environmental Technologies Fund 
15. [Lord] Nicol Stephen - Director, Renewable Energy Ventures 
16. Heather Stevens - Chair, Waterloo Foundation 
17. Jane Vaus - Project Director, Sustainability Hub 
18. William Watts - Director, RAW Energy Limited 
19. Esbjorn Wilmar - Chief Executive, Infinergy 
20. Louise Wilson - Managing Director, Abundance Generation

This follows the public declaration in favour of the Liberal Democrats by 30 entrepreneurs, as reported by the Financial Times on the 16th April.

Liberal Democrat Women's manifesto

You can also read the main manifesto in easy read, clear print, plain text or Braille versions, or listen to it on an audio recording.

Justice for public sector workers

Independent think-tank gives LibDem manifesto highest rating

In its analysis of the parties spending plans, the Institute for Fiscal Studies reported that the Liberal Democrats are the most transparent.

It also said that the Conservatives give a "misleading impression" while Labour give "disappointingly little" information on borrowing and do not provide enough funding for the NHS.

The report states that the Liberal Democrats have been more transparent than the other parties about their overall fiscal plans for the next parliament, in particular setting these out in some detail up to 2017–18.

It also highlights how we would cut borrowing more quickly than Labour and keep our economy strong for the future.

From IFS comparison of post-austerity plans: http://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/7725

The report also notes how we will invest in public services and that under the Liberal Democrats, departmental spending would be £13.2 billion (or 3.6 per cent) higher in real terms in 2019–20 than it was in 2014–15.

Responding to the report David Laws said:

"The IFS could not be clearer - when it comes to the economy the Liberal Democrats are the most transparent and are the party that will end austerity the earliest.

“By contrast, the IFS lift the lid on Tory plans to cut public spending to the bone and accuse them of burying details of their the plans to shrink the state.

“They also shine a light on the sheer scale of Labour’s deficit denial, which includes yet unspecified levels of borrowing, despite starving the NHS of the cash it needs.

“It's now official. Only the Liberal Democrats can be trusted to build a stronger economy and fairer society, and create opportunity for all.”

Labour can't be trusted on the economy

LibDems would help all would-be house owners

Rent to Own will help all renters. Right to Buy has no particular effect on Wales and is a flawed policy anyway.

Liberal Democrats Five Green Laws

New graduates better off under LibDems

Let's stay on the road

Christian Aid endorses Liberal Democrat manifesto

The Liberal Democrat manifesto offers a vision of a fair and sustainable future for all, including the world’s poorest people, says Christian Aid.

Don't let them get away with it

Thinking of voting Labour?

Four reasons to think again.

Liberal Democrat manifesto welcomed by advocates

The Bar Council's response to the Liberal Democrat manifesto:

"Neither main party will protect the Ministry of Justice budget, but judging from today's manifesto pledges from the Liberal Democrats, it looks like politicians are finally addressing the legal profession's concerns about access to justice," Alistair MacDonald QC, Chairman of the Bar, said yesterday.

"In a week of manifesto launches, today feels like it is third time lucky. "Promises were long over-due on reversing the hike in up-front court fees, reviewing tribunal fees, ensuring legal aid is available to those who need it and re-introducing legal aid for judicial review. But today they were delivered.

"The commitment to maintaining a viable, competitive and diverse market of legal aid providers is also one we can fully support.

"The legal sector has campaigned hard, this year in particular, to protect legal professional privilege from heavy-handed surveillance laws. Today we can see that has paid off as the Liberal Democrats have promised that judicial authorisation will be needed to eavesdrop on privileged communications, a safeguard the Bar Council has been demanding for some time. They also propose to introduce a Digital Bill of Rights and to deliver a 'complete overhaul' of surveillance powers in 2016.

"Provided opportunities for clients to be represented and heard in court remain, we support proposals such as promoting mediation and alternative dispute resolution, investment in IT and the development of online justice.

"We also look forward to hearing more about the Liberal Democrat strategy to fill the legal advice gap created by the LASPO cuts on areas including personal debt and social welfare.

"The Bar Council is keen to work with the new Government, whatever its complexion, on all these policy areas. At least some of the concerns voiced by the profession are being heard."

Welsh Liberal Democrat General Election manifestos online

Look left, look right, cross Liberal Democrat

We will borrow less than Labour, cut less than the Tories

The Conservatives' astonishing claim to freeze rail fares

In government the Conservatives repeatedly argued for raising rail fares by well above inflation. Liberal Democrats had to fight to keep rises to a minimum.

It is astonishing that the Conservatives now claim they would freeze rail fares.

They have shown no willingness to do so in the last five years and it is difficult to see why anyone should now believe they would do so.

Liberal Democrats in government have fought to keep rises lower than demands made by the Conservatives. 

Liberal Democrats first to commit to saving the NHS

http://www.welshlibdems.wales/lib_dems_remain_the_only_party_to_make_credible_commitment_to_nhs_funding

Digital rights

Frank Little writes:

One of the key issues on which the Liberal Democrats differ from the Labour Party, the increasingly authoritarian Scottish Nationalist Party and, sadly after such a good start, the Conservatives, is that of the rights of the citizen.

Yesterday, the Liberal Democrats outlined a Digital Rights Bill which we want to introduce in the next parliament.The Bill would introduce:

• Prison sentences for companies conducting large-scale data theft and illegally selling on personal data;
• Beefed up powers for the Information Commissioner to fine and enforce disciplinary action on government bodies if they breach data protection laws;
• Legal rights to compensation for consumers when companies make people sign up online to deliberately misleading and illegible terms & conditions;
• Code of Practice for online services who would by law have to correct information about members of the public where it is inaccurate or defamatory
• Enshrining in law the responsibility of government to defend the free press, including the rights of journalists and citizen journalists to express their views freely online;
• Prevent government from watering down cyber-security and encryption measures used by British business.

Read more here.

Spin-driven policies

Liberal Democrat Green Transport Policy

Why Liberal Democrat women in parliament are vital

Liberal Democrats are fielding a record number of women in winnable seats and in seats which we held in the last parliament. Liberal Democrat Women are emphasising the party's key achievements and policies which are female-friendly:

1. Our commitment to ending the gender pay gap.
2. Shared parental leave, so mothers and fathers can work out what's best for their child.
3. Significantly improving mental health, with supports which mirrors that received for physical health.
4. Raising the tax allowance to £10,600. Which has meant a tax cut of £825 for 27 million working people and taken over 3 million out of paying tax altogether. A great Lib Dem policy particularly for women and young people who are most likely to be in part-time work as they can now keep more of the money they earn.
5. There are two million new apprenticeships because of the Lib Dems in Government.

Credit where credit is due

Preview of manifesto themes

Liberal Democrat council by-election success

Thanks to the Tandridge District Council web-site for the following:

Election Date: 1/4/2015

Election Type: District Council

Electorate: 2991

Whyteleafe

Result: David Lee, Liberal Democrats - Elected (393 votes)
(Gain)
Turnout: 26.4%

Candidate	Party	Number of votes
	Spoilt	5
Martin Ferguson	United Kingdom Independence Party	119
David Lee	Liberal Democrats	393
Peter Sweeney	Conservative Party	274

David Lee will be the Liberal Democrat candidate for the East Surrey constituency, of which Whyteleafe is part. David was the challenger to Conservative Sam Gyimah in 2010, 9,000 votes ahead of Labour in third place.



Congratulations also to Sam Bennett, chair of IR Cymru/Welsh Liberal Democrat Youth, on winning last Thursday's by-election in St Mary's ward on Brecon Town Council. (Figures not yet to hand.) The result bodes well for Roger Williams, looking to retain the Brecon & Radnorshire seat for the Liberal Democrats.

Trust Liberal Democrats on civil rights

Trust a progressive party of government

Liberal Democrat economic plan for next parliament

http://www.libdems.org.uk/danny-alexander-sets-out-an-alternative-economic-plan-for-britain

Labour exploits child abuse victim in misleading poster

Guido Fawkes quotes a leading paediatric surgeon on the subject of Labour's contentious broken-bone NHS poster:

“There are absolutely clear two episodes of violence and possibly the bone bruise is a third… I have run it past a couple of paediatric colleagues are they both recognised this to be very likely non-accidental injury.”

The poster is misleading because Labour has not committed to the £8bn which health professionals state is needed to save the NHS in England. The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have made this commitment. (Increases in the NHS budget in England will be passed on proportionately to Wales under the funding formula. It is up to the Welsh government to decide how that extra money is spent.)

LibDems bring Tories on board in gender pay gap issue

Jo Swinson* on Liberal Democrat Voice reports:

In the final days of this Government Lib Dems are still delivering our agenda against the odds, and against Conservative obstruction.

Under the coalition government the gender pay gap had fallen to its lowest level, at just under 20% – but this is still 19.1% too high. Despite our high levels of women’s employment the UK has the 8th highest gender pay gap in the EU.

Not only is the gender pay gap socially wrong in modern society, but economically it’s nonsensical not to reward our most talented female employees properly. We should value the contribution of women and men in the workplace equally, so our goal has to be eliminating the pay gap completely.

As a Business Minister and Minister for Women, I have worked very hard to persuade my Coalition colleagues of the virtues of tough action to tackle this long-term inequality. Their traditional resistance makes it all the more remarkable that Nick Clegg has, in the last few weeks of our term, secured a government amendment that guarantees all large businesses will have to publish the difference between average pay for their male and female staff. So today (Tuesday) I will proudly vote for our party’s manifesto commitment – for large companies to publish the difference in average pay between male and female employees – to become law.

This is a significant win for women, and a political win for Liberal Democrats in Government. Amendments to the Small Business Bill, [approved in the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday),] will fast-track our manifesto plans for gender pay transparency within the next 12 months. This will mean large companies – over 250 employees – will be legally required to publish the average pay of their male and female staff. It is our intention to create pressure from staff and customers to account for and close any pay gap that exists between men and women in large businesses. Women will know whether they are being properly rewarded for their endeavours: a situation that is good for competitive businesses and good for the economy.

As readers of Lib Dem Voice will know, we have argued for mandatory pay transparency since before the coalition was formed. We were the first major political party to commit to enforcing gender pay transparency by law. Labour might try to claim now that they would have done this in 2010 but actually their proposal was for voluntary publication for four years. This was something our champion for women, Lynne Featherstone objected to at the time – arguing against Labour’s delay that “pay audits are necessary and must be mandatory. We cannot wait another four years… voluntary pay audits are like waiting for Godot.”

In the wake of entrenched Conservative opposition, and in the context of Labour’s commitments while in government, we had to agree to try a voluntary approach first.  We did so only on the condition that the decision would remain under review, and if this approach did not lead to more companies publishing the difference in pay between men and women, mandatory reporting would be introduced for large companies. During our time in government just five companies have chosen to publish their gender pay gap voluntarily.  While I take my hat off to those who do – this is just not good enough.

Of course, the gender pay gap is not exactly an issue that the Conservative Party gets out of bed for. They were content to kick this issue into the long grass time and time again. Nick and I have made increasingly urgent appeals to our Conservative colleagues to address this. Which is why, today I am proud that we will go further than I expected. By securing a government amendment, Nick Clegg has successfully ensured that ministers on the government payroll will vote in favour of gender pay transparency, despite the Conservatives’ consistent efforts to block the proposals over the life of the coalition.

I could speculate about why the Tories have caved just weeks before the election – maybe the International Women’s Day celebrations caught the PM in a jovial mood? Or perhaps he feared that history (or the voters) would judge him for being on the wrong side of this argument.  It may be that with some help from the Liberal Democrats, he simply read the political runes and didn’t want to countenance any risk to the successful passage of the Small Business Bill as the firm deadline of Parliament’s dissolution approached. Liberal Democrats can be proud that we have been the drivers of reforms to modernise the workplace to give women a fairer chance to get to the top of the career ladder. By extending flexible working to all employees, introducing Shared Parental Leave and revolutionising childcare, we are ensuring that there is greater equality at home and at work.

We can also be proud that – thanks to our term of stability in government – there are more women in work than ever before and women’s gross weekly earnings have increased between 2013 and 2014. Additionally we have banned pay secrecy clauses and introduced mandatory pay audits for companies that lose equal pay claims. The Government is also committed to tackling occupational segregation, and the outdated view that certain jobs are for “men-only”. Only 13% of engineers in this country are women – substantially lower than other European countries like Latvia, Sweden and Bulgaria. Through initiatives like “Your Life” we are encouraging young girls to get into STEM-related careers.

We have achieved a lot, but there is still much more to do. Equal pay and better gender representation in business is good for the economy as well as helping to create a fairer society. So any future coalition that contains Liberal Democrats will ensure this remains front and centre of our efforts in government.

* Jo Swinson is the Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire and is a Minister in hte Department Business, Innovation and Skills and Equalities Minister

Minimum-wage dodgers named and shamed

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has issued another list of those employers, including some High Street brands, who have illegally paid some staff less than the minimum wage. This latest round brings the total number of companies named and shamed under the new regime to 210 employers, with total arrears of over £635,000 and total penalties of over £248,000.

Business Minister, Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson said:

There’s no excuse for companies that don’t pay staff the wages they’re entitled to – whether by wilfully breaking the law, or making irresponsible mistakes.

The government is protecting workers by cracking down on employers who ignore minimum wage rules. In addition to naming and shaming, we’ve increased the penalty fines and boosted the resources available to investigate non-compliance.

Seven-year record rise in minimum wage

Wales Online reports:

The national minimum wage will go up by 20p an hour from October.

It will be the biggest real-terms rise in seven years with 1.4 million low paid workers set to benefit from the 3% hike while rates for younger workers and apprentices will also go up.

The rates were recommended by the Low Pay Commission.

[Liberal Democrat] Business Secretary Vince Cable is planning to launch a national minimum wage accelerator - an online tool which will make it easier to compare rates of pay across regions, sectors and occupations.

It will take data from the annual survey of hours and earnings and display information about pay so that people are able to compare wages with others in their sector and region.

Mr Cable hopes that by having the facts, people will be empowered to discuss pay with their employers and businesses will be encouraged to consider whether they can increase rates.

The Government is also launching a consultation with businesses on the future minimum wage for apprentices.

It is predicted that inflation as measured by CPI will fall below 1% this year. The headline increases are in line with the recommendations from the Low Pay Commission, but for apprentices the coalition government went further. The recommendation was for a mere 7p increase rather than the 57p increase which will actually be introduced.

More from Liverpool federal conference

Freedom of expression:
http://youtu.be/o9rM6BKAGss

The Leader's speech:
http://www.libdems.org.uk/nick-clegg-speech-to-spring-conference-2015

Speeches from Liberal Democrat federal conference

Vince Cable: http://www.libdemvoice.org/in-full-vince-cables-speech-to-liberal-democrat-conference-has-the-coalition-been-worth-it-44999.html

Jo Swinson: http://www.libdemvoice.org/jo-swinson-saddles-up-her-feminist-high-horse-45002.html

Danny Alexander: http://www.libdemvoice.org/in-full-danny-alexanders-speech-to-conference-45006.html

Watch the Welsh Open Doors video

A blow for equal earnings

An amendment to the Small Business Bill being debated in the House of Lords next week would change the law to force firms with more than 250 staff to declare how much they pay men and women.

Jenny Willott, Lib Dem MP for Cardiff Central, said: “Real equality means fair pay. Women on average are paid 20% less than men, and are less likely to be in a leadership role. That frankly isn’t good enough.

“I have been pushing within Government to see this change – companies need to be held to account for how much they pay their male and female employees. I’m delighted that this will now be brought in and I hope it will make a real difference to the gap in pay between men and women.

“Let us be in no doubt, this wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the Liberal Democrats. The Tories have resisted these changes, but we have won the argument.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “We can’t wait and we can’t dither. We need to sort this out now. Jo Swinson, Jenny Willott and I have pushed for this to happen within government for a long time. Finally, we are now in a position for the government to vote through our party’s manifesto commitment for large companies to publish the difference in average pay between male and female employees.”

Things LibDems have stopped Tories doing

• Inheritance tax cuts for millionaires 
• Scrapping help with housing costs for young people
• Weakening arrest warrants for people who have fled overseas
• Firing workers at will, without any reasons given
• Regional pay penalising public sector workers outside London and the South East 
• The Snoopers’ Charter
• Ditching the Human Rights Act
• Weakening the protections in the Equalities Act
• Renewing Trident in this Parliament
• Cutting investment in green energy
• Nation-wide immigration checks on all new tenants and lodgers

Thanks to Mark Pack. His full list (including England-only measures) is here.

Debates

Nick Clegg will step in to the head-to-head debate with Ed Miliband to defend the Government’s record if David Cameron will not. By proposing to hold the debate before the Tory manifesto is published, the public will not be able to see David Cameron grilled on his plans for Britain. Liberal Democrats are not afraid to debate our record or our manifesto. We are proud that we have helped rescue the British economy and ensured the recovery has been done fairly. Nick Clegg is passionate about anchoring these debates into the democratic process. If this means taking part in a “seven-sided 90 minute bite size squabble fest”, so be it. It is not right for one party and one man to hold the debates to ransom. They are a right of the British people. Why should the Conservatives hold a veto over our democratic process? Liberal Democrat General Election Chair Paddy Ashdown said on the Today programme: “I'm told that Downing Street is now depending on the Liberal Democrats to say no. Well, I've got bad news for them. We're not going to. "I hope the broadcasters stand firm but I need to be very clear that even if it is done in the fashion that the Prime Minister demands - and why on earth should he be able to veto the democratic debate? - we will still be there. “If it is the case that there's a two-headed debate and Mr Miliband turns up and the Prime Minister will not defend the record of the Government, then Nick Clegg will be very happy to. “What he is proposing is not just a ludicrous, seven-sided, bite-sized squabble fest but actually he is proposing it takes place before the Conservative manifesto is published. “If Mr Cameron hasn't got the guts to stand up and defend this government's record then Nick Clegg will do so."

Drugs reform

The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed today that the Liberal Democrat manifesto will contain the most far-reaching drug reform policies ever put forward by a major political party.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg made the commitment at an event alongside entrepreneur Richard Branson, a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

The manifesto will include commitments to:

• Adopt the approach used in Portugal, where those arrested for possession of drugs for personal use are diverted into treatment, education or civil penalties that do not attract a criminal record.

• Legislate to end the use of imprisonment for possession of drugs for personal use, diverting resources towards tackling organised drug crime instead, as a first step towards reforming the system.

• Continue to apply severe penalties to those who manufacture, import or deal in illegal drugs, and clamp down on those who produce and sell unregulated chemical highs.

• Establish a review to assess the effectiveness of the cannabis legalisation experiments in the United States and Uruguay, in relation to public health and criminal activity.

• Legislate to make the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs independent in setting the classification of drugs, while remaining accountable to Parliament and the wider public.

• Enable doctors to prescribe cannabis for medicinal use.

• Put the Department of Health rather than the Home Office in charge of drug policy.

Nick Clegg said:

 “If you’re anti-drugs, as I am, then you have a responsibility to look at the evidence of what actually works to reduce drug harm."At the moment, the level of harm to individuals and communities – here and around the world – is still unacceptably high. We need to get a grip on this problem. So, if you’re anti-drugs, you should be pro-reform.

“What we now need is brave political leadership to openly acknowledge that new ways of controlling illegal drug markets and discouraging use are required.

“So, my challenge today for politicians, the press and the public is to accept the overwhelming evidence that things are not working, that politicians are letting down the victims of the drugs trade by failing to engage with the evidence.

“Talking tough while acting weak may be tempting, but it no longer fools anyone.  It is time to commit to a radically smarter approach to tackle this problem head-on.”