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Lib Dems to push for income tax cuts in future coalition talks | Lib Dems to push for income tax cuts in future coalition talks |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Raising the personal income tax allowance to £12,500 will be a key Lib Dem demand in any coalition talks after the 2015 election, the party is to say. | Raising the personal income tax allowance to £12,500 will be a key Lib Dem demand in any coalition talks after the 2015 election, the party is to say. |
Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander will say the party's 2015 manifesto is to include the pledge. | Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander will say the party's 2015 manifesto is to include the pledge. |
Since 2010 the personal allowance - the amount people can earn before paying income tax - has risen to £10,000. | Since 2010 the personal allowance - the amount people can earn before paying income tax - has risen to £10,000. |
Party leader Nick Clegg has already called for a further £500 increase to be included in this month's Budget. | Party leader Nick Clegg has already called for a further £500 increase to be included in this month's Budget. |
And Mr Alexander, who is expected to lead his party's negotiating team if there is to be a new coalition in 2015, will say another rise of at least £500 - amounting to a tax cut of £100 a year - is to be earmarked for the first Budget or Autumn Statement after the election. | And Mr Alexander, who is expected to lead his party's negotiating team if there is to be a new coalition in 2015, will say another rise of at least £500 - amounting to a tax cut of £100 a year - is to be earmarked for the first Budget or Autumn Statement after the election. |
The income tax allowance stood at £6,475 when the coalition government was formed in May 2010. | |
'Drawing strength' | 'Drawing strength' |
According to pre-released extracts of his speech to the Lib Dem spring conference in York, the chief secretary will say: "We will fight the next election with our own ideas, our own policies, our own values - no-one else's. | According to pre-released extracts of his speech to the Lib Dem spring conference in York, the chief secretary will say: "We will fight the next election with our own ideas, our own policies, our own values - no-one else's. |
"And I can tell you that a top priority in any negotiation will be our aspiration to raise the personal allowance dramatically again in the next Parliament. | "And I can tell you that a top priority in any negotiation will be our aspiration to raise the personal allowance dramatically again in the next Parliament. |
"To raise it to £12,500... that would be a further tax cut for working people of £500. At our first fiscal event in the next Parliament, we would deliver another tax cut of at least £100. | "To raise it to £12,500... that would be a further tax cut for working people of £500. At our first fiscal event in the next Parliament, we would deliver another tax cut of at least £100. |
"A two-term Lib Dem government would then be delivering a tax cut for working people of £1,200 - that's £100 a month." | "A two-term Lib Dem government would then be delivering a tax cut for working people of £1,200 - that's £100 a month." |
Mr Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, has called for this month's Budget to be used to deliver a "workers' bonus", by raising the threshold to £10,500. | Mr Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, has called for this month's Budget to be used to deliver a "workers' bonus", by raising the threshold to £10,500. |
Mr Alexander will say: "Every day in the run-up to the Budget, Nick and I are drawing strength from our party's growing campaign to press for a further rise in the allowance to £10,500. | Mr Alexander will say: "Every day in the run-up to the Budget, Nick and I are drawing strength from our party's growing campaign to press for a further rise in the allowance to £10,500. |
"That would be another £100 tax cut for working people on top of the £700 already delivered." | "That would be another £100 tax cut for working people on top of the £700 already delivered." |
'Gone native' | 'Gone native' |
He is also expected to resume his party's criticism of its coalition partners, the Conservatives. | He is also expected to resume his party's criticism of its coalition partners, the Conservatives. |
He will say: "In 2010 the Conservatives wanted inheritance tax cuts for millionaires, we fought for and delivered tax cuts for working people. | He will say: "In 2010 the Conservatives wanted inheritance tax cuts for millionaires, we fought for and delivered tax cuts for working people. |
"In 2011 the Conservatives wanted 'shares for rights', we fought for and delivered tax cuts for working people. | "In 2011 the Conservatives wanted 'shares for rights', we fought for and delivered tax cuts for working people. |
"In 2013 the Conservatives wanted a tax break for married couples that excluded millions of families, we fought for and delivered - you guessed it - more tax cuts for working people. | "In 2013 the Conservatives wanted a tax break for married couples that excluded millions of families, we fought for and delivered - you guessed it - more tax cuts for working people. |
"Now, belatedly, some Tories are lamely trying to claim credit. | "Now, belatedly, some Tories are lamely trying to claim credit. |
"Don't get me wrong, it must be hard to be a Tory in a Treasury delivering so much Lib Dem policy, so it's no surprise if some of them have gone native." | "Don't get me wrong, it must be hard to be a Tory in a Treasury delivering so much Lib Dem policy, so it's no surprise if some of them have gone native." |
If the results of the next general election, which is due in 2015, mean that another coalition involving the Lib Dems is a possibility, Mr Alexander will be joined in the Lib Dem negotiating team by David Laws, Lynne Featherstone and Steve Webb - who have all been ministers in the current coalition - along with Baroness Brinton. | If the results of the next general election, which is due in 2015, mean that another coalition involving the Lib Dems is a possibility, Mr Alexander will be joined in the Lib Dem negotiating team by David Laws, Lynne Featherstone and Steve Webb - who have all been ministers in the current coalition - along with Baroness Brinton. |