Smithy said:
I think the bigger slap in the face is WE WILL ABOLISH TUITION FEES.
Well that's very nice Nick and Vince, and in a time where you're looking to make billions of savings, how do you suggest funding that?
You've answered your own question there - savings!
BUT since the
Lib Dems are the ONLY party to actually publish full costings in their manifesto, allow me to show you:-
Spending Proposals
£m (in predicted nominal terms)
............................................................2010–11.....2011–12.....2012–13.....2013–14.....2014–15
Spending commitments
Jobs and infrastructure package including:
a Eco cash-back scheme..................................................335.....0.....0.....0.....0
b Investing in wind energy and other renewables.............420.....0.....0.....0.....0
c Insulating public buildings............................................400.....0.....0.....0.....0
d Bringing empty homes back into use.............................1,165.....0.....0.....0.....0
e Tackling youth unemployment......................................660.....95.....0.....0.....0
f Bus scrappage/replacement scheme..............................140.....0.....0.....0.....0
Cut class sizes – introducing a pupil premium...............0.....2,500.....2,540.....2,590.....2,640
Scrapping tuition fees...............................................3.....600.....685.....740.....1,570.....1,765
Restore the pension earnings link.................................0.....0.....320..........330
Recruit 3,000 more police officers................................5.....50.....95.....185
Pay rise and better homes for our troops.......................0.....420.....425.....430.....440
Total spending......................................................3,730.....3,745.....4,115..... 5,050.....5,360
Savings Proposals
£m (in predicted nominal terms)
............................................................2010–11.....2011–12.....2012–13.....2013–14.....2014–15
Helping people fairly
Reform tax credits.....................................................640.....1,305.....1,300.....1,310.....1,315
Reform winter fuel payments...................................300.....145.....60.....-15.....-70
Scale back the Homebuy programme.........................250.....255.....260.....265.....270
Refocus Train to Gain...............................................325.....335.....340.....345.....350
End government contributions to the Child Trust Fund........395.....545.....555.....565.....580
Introduce a levy on bank profits..............................2,005.....2,205.....2,430.....2,670.....2,940
Cut Ministry of Defence administration and top brass........0.....205.....420.....440.....460
Cut the economic costs of mental health problems
through better treatment.................................................0.....425.....500.....575.....605
A cash limit on public sector pay rises of £400
for 2 years.....................................................................0.....1,705.....3,460.....3,525.....3,600
Decentralising government
Abolish the Government Offices for the Regions..............0.....90.....90.....90.....95
Reform Regional Development Agencies..........................0.....600.....610.....620.....635
Cut bureaucracy of local government inspections............0.....860.....870.....890.....905
End top-down education initiatives..................................0.....335.....340.....350.....355
Creating a freer society
Scrap ID cards.........................................................50.....80.....110.....155.....155
Scrap biometric passports.......................................220.....405.....425.....400.....380
Scrap Intercept Modernisation Programme..............0.....200.....200.....200.....200
Abolish ContactPoint.................................................0.....45.....45.....50.....50
Maintain the current school leaving age....................0.....0.....35.....35.....70
Creating a more cost-effective government
Commercialise UK Trade and Investment.......................0.....135.....135.....140.....140
Scrap Eurofighter tranche 3B...........................................0.....0.....510.....510.....510
Cut education quangos and administration.....................0.....415.....410.....420.....430
Prison reform..................................................................0.....795.....735.....675.....845
Scrap civil service bonuses............................................0.....155.....155.....160.....160
Cut use of consultants in the public sector......................0.....180.....180.....185.....190
Cut quangos across government.....................................0.....225.....225.....230.....235
Cut the costs of politics.................................................0.....610.....620.....635.....645
Net increase in devolved administration budgets
The Scottish Parliament...........................................240.....-120.....-120.....-30.....-25
The National Assembly for Wales.............................140.....-15.....-15.....30.....40
The Northern Ireland Assembly................................80.....-50.....-45.....-15.....-15
Total savings.........................................................3,730.....12,430.....15,205.....15,435.....16,050
Balance in public sector spending........................0.....-8,680.....-11,090.....-10,385.....-10,685
Smithy said:
Oh right, you're going to end up doubling the tax on EVERYTHING.
Nope, that's the Conservatives
.