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Vince Cable says Conservatives 'obsessed with cuts' Vince Cable says Conservatives 'lying' over tax pledges
(35 minutes later)
Business Secretary Vince Cable has said the Conservative Party is "obsessed" with spending cuts, with many public services already "cut to the bone". Business Secretary Vince Cable has accused the Conservatives of "lying" by claiming they can eliminate the budget deficit without the need for tax rises.
Mr Cable said the Lib Dems could "categorically not go along with" Conservative proposals for £25bn of further spending cuts. He told the Lib Dem conference the Conservative Party was "obsessed" with spending cuts, with many public services already "cut to the bone".
Addressing the Lib Dem conference in Glasgow, he also said most immigrants brought "tangible" economic benefits. And he said the Lib Dems could "not go along with" Conservative proposals for £25bn of further spending cuts.
And he announced a pay rise for the lowest-paid apprentices. The Conservatives said voters would decide on their tax plans next May.
Mr Cable said the economy was still "dangerously dependant on the drug of cheap money". In a speech which saw his most outspoken attack yet on his party's coalition partners, Mr Cable said: "The Tories are ideologically obsessed by cuts. They see it as a way of destroying public services and the welfare state, which they detest.
He said: "The Tories are ideologically obsessed by cuts. They see it as a way of destroying public services and the welfare state, which they detest." "So you might ask what is the alternative? The truth is more taxes will be needed. To contribute to deficit reduction and also to address unacceptable inequalities.
Conservative proposals for £25bn of further spending cuts would "do great harm" he said, adding: "We can categorically not go along with this." "Any politician who tells you that the next Government can balance the budget and avoid tax increases is lying to you."
Asked later on BBC Radio 4's The World at One whether this would be a "red line" in any future coalition negotiations, he said it was "a fundamental area of difference" but added that he was not discussing the scenario of future coalitions. Asked later on BBC Radio 4's The World at One whether the Conservative plans for £25bn of spending cuts would be a "red line" in any future coalition negotiations, Mr Cable said it was "a fundamental area of difference" but added that he was not discussing the scenario of future coalitions.
In other developments at the conference:In other developments at the conference:
In his speech, Mr Cable said more taxes would be needed, but added that public borrowing for investment was a "no brainer".In his speech, Mr Cable said more taxes would be needed, but added that public borrowing for investment was a "no brainer".
"Any politician who tells you that the next government can balance the budget and avoid tax increases is lying to you," he said.
The Conservatives have pledged to eliminate the deficit without increasing taxes.The Conservatives have pledged to eliminate the deficit without increasing taxes.
The business secretary also said banks were "still taking more money out of small and medium sized companies than they are putting in".The business secretary also said banks were "still taking more money out of small and medium sized companies than they are putting in".
Mr Cable told the conference the Lib Dems had joined the coalition "because there was a national economic emergency".Mr Cable told the conference the Lib Dems had joined the coalition "because there was a national economic emergency".
"We worked with the Tories because voters chose them as the largest party - not because we liked them, or because we are like them.""We worked with the Tories because voters chose them as the largest party - not because we liked them, or because we are like them."
The party has "abandoned the politics of perpetual protest", he said, crediting leader Nick Clegg with this "massive transformation".The party has "abandoned the politics of perpetual protest", he said, crediting leader Nick Clegg with this "massive transformation".
One of the areas of policy which Mr Cable highlighted as being different between the parties was immigration, saying the "uncomfortable truth" was that the "vast majority" of migrants benefited the economy. One of the other areas of policy which Mr Cable highlighted as being different between the parties was immigration, saying the "uncomfortable truth" was that the "vast majority" of migrants benefited the economy.
"Our party has a massive responsibility - to be the voice of sanity, seriousness and sense. Standing up to the purveyors of panic, prejudice and pessimism.""Our party has a massive responsibility - to be the voice of sanity, seriousness and sense. Standing up to the purveyors of panic, prejudice and pessimism."
Minimum wageMinimum wage
The pay rise for apprentices could come into effect next October, if cleared by regulators, he said. He also proposed a pay rise for apprentices, to come into effect next October, if cleared by regulators.
Mr Cable is writing to the Low Pay Commission recommending that the apprentice rate of the minimum wage and the 16/17-year-old rate are combined. Mr Cable said he was writing to the Low Pay Commission recommending that the apprentice rate of the minimum wage and the 16/17-year-old rate be combined.
Most apprentices already earn more than the minimum wage but about 31,000 people are expected to benefit from the move, with their hourly rate going up from £2.73 to £3.79.Most apprentices already earn more than the minimum wage but about 31,000 people are expected to benefit from the move, with their hourly rate going up from £2.73 to £3.79.
The £1.06 hourly increase is backed by the Conservatives.The £1.06 hourly increase is backed by the Conservatives.
Labour's shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: "You can't trust Vince Cable and the Liberal Democrats. They broke their promises and have been too weak to stand up to the Tories."Labour's shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: "You can't trust Vince Cable and the Liberal Democrats. They broke their promises and have been too weak to stand up to the Tories."
He pointed to the increase in tuition fees and said working people were £1,600 a year worse off since 2010.He pointed to the increase in tuition fees and said working people were £1,600 a year worse off since 2010.
The Conservatives have accused the Lib Dems of "trying to wriggle out of" making £25bn in cuts and asked how the Lib Dems would find the savings the Conservatives plan to make with a benefit freeze.The Conservatives have accused the Lib Dems of "trying to wriggle out of" making £25bn in cuts and asked how the Lib Dems would find the savings the Conservatives plan to make with a benefit freeze.
A Conservative Party source said: "We respectfully disagree with Mr Cable - if the Lib Dems want to argue for tax increases on working people, then we will make our case for tax cuts to the electorate."A Conservative Party source said: "We respectfully disagree with Mr Cable - if the Lib Dems want to argue for tax increases on working people, then we will make our case for tax cuts to the electorate."
The start of the Lib Dem conference has been dominated by attacks on the Conservatives, with former leader Sir Menzies Campbell even stepping in to urge his colleagues to rein-in their "extravagant" language. The Lib Dem conference has been dominated by attacks on the Conservatives, with former leader Sir Menzies Campbell even stepping in to urge his colleagues to rein-in their "extravagant" language.
What has upset senior party figures the most are Conservative plans - announced last week - to freeze working-age benefits and raise the threshold of the 40p income tax rate.What has upset senior party figures the most are Conservative plans - announced last week - to freeze working-age benefits and raise the threshold of the 40p income tax rate.
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mr Cable's comments were the latest move by a senior Lib Dem to distance themselves from their coalition partners.BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mr Cable's comments were the latest move by a senior Lib Dem to distance themselves from their coalition partners.
Lib Dem president Tim Farron accused the Conservatives of being "borderline immoral" for trying to "balance the books on the back of the poor".Lib Dem president Tim Farron accused the Conservatives of being "borderline immoral" for trying to "balance the books on the back of the poor".
At the Conservative conference last week Chancellor George Osborne said "the option of taxing your way out of a deficit no longer exists, if it ever did".At the Conservative conference last week Chancellor George Osborne said "the option of taxing your way out of a deficit no longer exists, if it ever did".
He said the UK was the fastest-growing economy of any developed nation and said the Conservatives "here resolve that we will finish the job that we have started", in getting the economy on track and eradicating the deficit.He said the UK was the fastest-growing economy of any developed nation and said the Conservatives "here resolve that we will finish the job that we have started", in getting the economy on track and eradicating the deficit.