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| Liberal Democrat conference: Clegg to call for tax on wealthy | Liberal Democrat conference: Clegg to call for tax on wealthy |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is to repeat his call for a tax on the wealthy when he rallies activists on their party conference's opening day. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is to repeat his call for a tax on the wealthy when he rallies activists on their party conference's opening day. |
| He will urge lower taxes for workers doing a "proper shift" but higher rates for those "sitting on a fortune". | He will urge lower taxes for workers doing a "proper shift" but higher rates for those "sitting on a fortune". |
| Lib Dem calls for a one-off tax on "unearned wealth" have been rejected by their Conservative coalition partners. | Lib Dem calls for a one-off tax on "unearned wealth" have been rejected by their Conservative coalition partners. |
| Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes did not rule ouit a future coalition with the Labour party. | |
| href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9559501/Simon-Hughes-interview-Labour-would-find-us-good-partners.html" >He told the Daily Telegraph he intended to visit this year's Labour Party conference, adding: "If the electorate decided they wanted a government of the centre and centre-Left, we would play our part in it." | |
| Mr Clegg has been under pressure in the lead-up to the conference - starting in Brighton on Saturday - amid growing disaffection among party members with the coalition and speculation about their leader's future. | |
| Earlier in the week, Mr Clegg made a public apology over his failure to honour a pledge to oppose an increase in university tuition fees in England. | Earlier in the week, Mr Clegg made a public apology over his failure to honour a pledge to oppose an increase in university tuition fees in England. |
| He said the party regretted breaking the promise it made before the 2010 election and would learn from its mistakes. | He said the party regretted breaking the promise it made before the 2010 election and would learn from its mistakes. |
| 'Steadied ship' | 'Steadied ship' |
| Speaking at a rally of Lib Dem activists later, Mr Clegg is due to defend the party's record in coalition, saying the arrangement with the Conservatives has not been "easy" but is still "right" for the country. | |
| "We have avoided an economic catastrophe. We have steadied the ship. Now we must set it sailing," he will say. | "We have avoided an economic catastrophe. We have steadied the ship. Now we must set it sailing," he will say. |
| He will argue the government must go further in reducing the tax burden on low and middle income families, building on a commitment to lift the threshold at which people start paying income tax to £9,205 by next April. | He will argue the government must go further in reducing the tax burden on low and middle income families, building on a commitment to lift the threshold at which people start paying income tax to £9,205 by next April. |
| "Liberal Democrats will not stop fighting to make this government and this country fairer," he will say. | "Liberal Democrats will not stop fighting to make this government and this country fairer," he will say. |
| "It's just wrong that people on low and middle incomes who work hard and play by the rules are taxed so much while Russian oligarchs pay the same council tax as some people do on a family home." | "It's just wrong that people on low and middle incomes who work hard and play by the rules are taxed so much while Russian oligarchs pay the same council tax as some people do on a family home." |
| The Lib Dems have long called for higher taxes on "unearned wealth" - either through increases in capital gains tax or the introduction of a "mansion tax" on properties worth more than £2m or a one-off levy on the assets of the super-rich. | The Lib Dems have long called for higher taxes on "unearned wealth" - either through increases in capital gains tax or the introduction of a "mansion tax" on properties worth more than £2m or a one-off levy on the assets of the super-rich. |
| In his Telegraph interview, Simon Hughes suggested such an approach might secure at least some Conservative support. | |
| "There are certainly some Tories who see the logic of a fairer system in terms of property taxation," he tells the paper. | |
| "The debate can't be entirely about cuts in benefit and the welfare budget - we have to address the tax issues and the wealth disparity issues." | |
| Pupil premium | Pupil premium |
| So far the Conservatives have rejected the manion tax idea and Mr Clegg will urge Lib Dem activists to exert pressure on Chancellor George Osborne by delivering three million "fair tax" campaign leaflets to homes by the end of the year. | |
| The Lib Dems were criticised for agreeing in March's Budget to reduce the 50% tax rate on top earners to 45% next April - with Labour saying it would benefit a small handful of millionaires when the majority were seeing declining living standards. | The Lib Dems were criticised for agreeing in March's Budget to reduce the 50% tax rate on top earners to 45% next April - with Labour saying it would benefit a small handful of millionaires when the majority were seeing declining living standards. |
| Also on Saturday, Education Minister David Laws will announce more support for schoolchildren from the most disadvantaged backgrounds through the Lib Dems' flagship "pupil premium" policy. | Also on Saturday, Education Minister David Laws will announce more support for schoolchildren from the most disadvantaged backgrounds through the Lib Dems' flagship "pupil premium" policy. |
| Funding for the scheme will rise from £600 to £900 per child next year, amounting to a £300,000 increase for a primary schools with 1,000 pupils in which a third qualify for the extra assistance. | Funding for the scheme will rise from £600 to £900 per child next year, amounting to a £300,000 increase for a primary schools with 1,000 pupils in which a third qualify for the extra assistance. |
| Mr Laws will say funding through the premium will also rise again in 2014, fully delivering on a 2010 manifesto pledge. | Mr Laws will say funding through the premium will also rise again in 2014, fully delivering on a 2010 manifesto pledge. |
| The move comes days after Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw said the policy was having little impact on many schools. | The move comes days after Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw said the policy was having little impact on many schools. |
| Activists will also hold debates on childcare and the future of the House of Lords on the conference floor. | Activists will also hold debates on childcare and the future of the House of Lords on the conference floor. |