Government is letting the economy be brought to its knees say Lib Dems (Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats)

Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats <info@garstonld.org.uk>

Government is letting the economy be brought to its knees say Lib Dems

February 2, 2009 12:00 AM

Vincent Cable MP for Twickenham In an Opposition Day debate, the Liberal Democrats called on the Government to immediately bring forward funding for capital projects, to generate future income and counter the recession.

As the recession continues to take its toll on the economy, the Liberal Democrats used their Opposition Day to criticise the Government for failing to use the opportunity to invest in programmes to create new jobs and build a stronger, greener Britain.

The motion (see full text below) to bring forward capital spending on public infrastructure was defeated, with 44 votes for and 229 votes against. Labour voted against the motion whilst the Conservatives abstained.

Speaking in the Commons, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said:

"The British economy is being brought to its knees and the Government is failing to help. The so-called 'fiscal stimulus', the VAT cut, has brought its strategy into disrepute.

"Instead of tackling tricky but necessary reforms, it looks like ministers are taking the easy way out, offloading problems onto councils, cutting front-line services and axing valuable public investment.

"Sensible public investment creates jobs today and builds assets for the future. Ministers must develop an efficient system to identify and fast-track good public investment."