For me, nothing better illustrates the Liberal Democrat mission to make Britain a fairer place than our Pupil Premium: extra money for the most disadvantaged children in our schools. We are letting schools decide the best way to spend this money.  I want to strike a deal with our schools and teachers: we’ll give you the cash, the freedom, and we’ll reward and celebrate your success.  But in return, we want you to redouble your efforts to close the gap between your poorer pupils and everyone else.  We won’t be telling you what to do; but we will be watching what ... More

This week, Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat minister at the Department of Health) has launched a national £4 million lung cancer awareness campaign. The campaign, the first of its kind, will use TV, radio and press adverts, and advertising on pharmacist bags and inside GP surgeries, to raise awareness of the disease. One of its aims is to persuade anyone who has had a cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor. You can find more information about coughing and lung cancer at the Department of Health website, here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/coughing-could-be-a-sign-of-lung-cancer-2/ With 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year, lung cancer is a blight ... More

Official reports have confirmed that no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has increased council tax for their residents. This is unlike both other major parties, many of which are increasing council tax by up to 3.5% this year. Commenting on Labour and Conservative councils’ record on Council Tax, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said: “While Labour and the Tories fight over how many of their councils raised Council Tax, it’s clear that with the Liberal Democrats your money is safest: no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has raised Council Tax. “Ordinary working families are struggling already with paying bills, without their councils increasing ... More

A first look at part of this week’s Liberal Democrat Local Election Broadcast. This clip looks at our key pledge to cut taxes for working families, and celebrates the fact that Liberal Democrats in government have achieved: The biggest-ever single uplift in the tax-free personal allowance A £3.5 billion tax cut for working men and women 840,000 of the lowest earners in the country lifted completely out of paying Income Tax Next year, the allowance increases again (to £9,205) – within touching distance of our manifesto promise to increase the Income Tax threshold to £10,000. These are all significant achievements that are already making a ... More

We can be proud that the biggest tax cuts in today’s Budget go to millions of working families. As a result of this Budget, someone working a full week on minimum wage will see their income tax bill cut by over 50% compared to under Labour. Increasing the personal allowance to £9,205 takes us within touching distance of our number one manifesto pledge – ensuring no one pays any tax on the first £10,000 they earn. Thanks to our changes, a basic rate taxpayer will be paying £45 a month less in tax than they would have been under Labour. We can be proud that ... More

2012 is going to show the best of Britain. With the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee, we’ll be celebrating our past but with our face to the future and the change it will bring. In Government, the Liberal Democrats are at the heart of that change. Of course, times are tough. Families are under pressure, worried about paying their bills. That’s why we’re cutting tax for working people while calling time on the tycoon tax dodgers. From next month, 25 million working people will have more money in their pocket, because of us. You can help spread the word about our £60 ... More

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Times are tough, families are under pressure, worried about paying their bills. That’s why the Lib Dems are cutting tax for working people while calling time on the tycoon tax dodgers. From next month, 25 million working people will have more money in their pocket, because of the Liberal Democrats. Watch the video and help spread the word about our £60 tax cut by clicking here. ... More

In tough times, the Liberal Democrats believe you should keep more of the money that you earn. That’s why the Liberal Democrats have long called for the tax-free threshold raised to £10,000 – giving you a tax cut when you need it most. Liberal Democrat plans would save working people £700 a year –that’s an extra £60 in your wages every month. And more than 3.5million older and low-paid people will be freed from paying any income tax altogether.  This is a plan we put on the front page of our General Election manifesto and it went into the Coalition Agreement. We ... More