Liberal Democrats in Business

News and views from the Lib Dem Treasury, Trade and Industry Teams and the Liberal Democrat Business Forum

20 Most Recent News Stories

Helping People From Ethnic Minorities Back Into Work Vitally Important - Alexander

Fri 1st Feb 2008

Commenting on today's [Friday] National Audit Office report on increasing employment rates of ethnic minorities, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Danny Alexander said: "It is vitally important to help people from ethnic minorities into work in order to tackle child poverty and entrenched deprivation in these communities.

Government Failing To Prevent Rising Repossessions - Cable

Thu 31st Jan 2008

Ahead of the release of government statistics on repossessions tomorrow, the Liberal Democrats have highlighted figures showing the recent big rise in repossessions.

New Property Tax Won't Fix Failed Council Tax - Goldsworthy

Thu 24th Jan 2008

Commenting on today's [Thursday] report from the New Local Government Network, which proposes replacing Council Tax with a Local Property Levy, Liberal Democrat Shadow Local Government Secretary, Julia Goldsworthy said: "While the Government obsesses with gimmicks, most people are more concerned with how they will pay their Council Tax bill.

Council Tax Increase Double The Rise Of Public Sector Pay - Goldsworthy

Thu 24th Jan 2008

Responding to the Local Government Association's survey suggesting that Council Tax is set to rise by an average of 4% this year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Local Government Secretary, Julia Goldsworthy said: "The Government's decision to limit public sector pay to 2% sits starkly alongside the fact that Council Tax is set to rise by twice that amount.

Micro-Generation And Energy Efficiency Schemes Needed To Reduce Emissions - Webb

Wed 23rd Jan 2008

Commenting on today's European Commission announcement on renewable energy targets, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Webb said: "The Government is spending far too much time on grand energy schemes which will not be up and running for many years, when what we need is urgent change.

Extra Energy Company Profits Should Be Used To Help Poorest Families - Clegg

Thu 17th Jan 2008

Ofgem has called on the extra profits energy companies will make because of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to be spent on reducing fuel poverty.

Banks Should Reduce Charges - Cable

Mon 14th Jan 2008

Commenting at the start of the court case between the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and several high street banks about bank charges, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "Banks are not charities and it is perfectly acceptable for them to levy charges when customers breach the terms of their bank accounts. However, trying to pretend that it costs upwards of £30 to return an unpaid direct debit is laughable.

Cable - Northern Rock: Sense Has Prevailed But Questions Must Be Answered

Sat 12th Jan 2008

Commenting on the recruitment of Ron Sandler to lead Northern Rock in the event that the bank is nationalised, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP said: "If the Government has now finally accepted our advice that public ownership is the least bad option, this is a very strange way in which to prepare for it through a leaked announcement.

Northern Rock Must Use Money From Assets Sale To Reduce Borrowing - Cable

Fri 11th Jan 2008

Commenting on the announcement that Northern Rock is to sell part of its mortgage assets to the investment Bank JP Morgan, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "If the money from this sale is used to reduce further borrowing from the Government, then it is probably desirable.

Sarah Teather MP Chosen To Lead Post Office Fight

Fri 21st Dec 2007

New Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has asked Brent East MP Sarah Teather to lead the fight against Labour's Post Office closures by promoting her to Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise.

World Bank funding must herald change in policy - Featherstone

Fri 14th Dec 2007

Commenting on the news that Britain is to provide the World Bank with more than £2bn over the next three years Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

Government bungled capital gains tax reform - Cable

Thu 13th Dec 2007

Commenting on Alistair Darling's announcement that he is to review the proposed abolition of Capital Gains Tax taper relief, Acting Liberal Democrat Leader and Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said: "The Chancellor promised the CBI last month that he would bring further proposals to the reform of Capital Gains Tax, yet today we discover we will not hear any announcement until next year.

Government can't ignore risk of housing crash - Cable

Wed 12th Dec 2007

Commenting on figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders showing that interest repayments swallow up 20.6% of first-time buyers' monthly incomes, Acting Liberal Democrat Leader and Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said: "Ministers can no longer ignore the possibility that millions of people could face the misery of negative equity and repossessions if the housing market turns.

Farepak families must receive compensation - Burt

Mon 10th Dec 2007

Commenting on today's government statement on the failed Christmas hamper company Farepak, Liberal Democrat Small Business Spokesperson, Lorely Burt MP said: "There's absolutely no Christmas comfort here for hard-pressed Farepak families.

Liberal Democrats to seek constructive dialogue on wind power - Opik

Sun 9th Dec 2007

Commenting on Government proposals to potentially power every home in Britain by wind energy by 2020, Liberal Democrat Shadow Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Secretary, Lembit Öpik MP said: "If John Hutton is signalling a change in policy towards real sustainable energy, he's taking a responsible and considered position.

Supermarket price-fixing hurts farmers and consumers - Williams

Fri 7th Dec 2007

Responding to the news that Asda and Sainsbury's have agreed to pay multi-million-pound fines after they admitted fixing the price of milk and cheese, Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson, Roger Williams MP said: "Supermarkets colluding in backroom deals not only disadvantages consumers but also their suppliers.

Northern Bank Is Only Being Kept Alive With Taxpayers' Money - Cable

Thu 6th Dec 2007

Commenting on the fact that Northern Rock has borrowed more than £30 billion from the Bank of England, Liberal Democrat Acting Leader and Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said: "This company is bleeding to death and only being kept alive by regular injections of taxpayers' money.

Rogue Companies Still Being Let Off The Hook - Öpik

Thu 6th Dec 2007

Commenting on plans to strengthen the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage announced today by the Government, Liberal Democrat Shadow Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Secretary, Lembit Öpik MP said: "This looks like another wasted opportunity to make sure all low paid workers benefit from the minimum wage.

House Price Inflation Should Be Incorporated Into CPI - Cable

Thu 6th Dec 2007

Responding to the announcement by the Bank of England of a cut in interest rates, Acting Liberal Democrat Leader and Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said: "With the current environment of panic in the City, reduced consumer confidence and the credit crunch biting, it was obvious that the Bank of England would cut interest rates.

Government Must Take Action To Prevent House Market Crash - Cable

Wed 5th Dec 2007

Responding to reports that UK house prices have fallen for the third month running, Liberal Democrat Acting Leader and Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said: "This is more evidence that the bubble is about to burst.

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