Chris Huhne MP visit to South Suffolk

Last night, the Lib Dem Home Affairs spoksperson, Chris Huhne MP visited Sudbury for the South Suffolk Dinner and to draw the Lib Dem National Christmas Draw which South Suffolk won last year. (Pictured left to right: Parliamentary Candidate Cllr Nigel Bennett, Cllr David Grutchfield and Chris Huhne MP)

Chris Huhne made an impressive speech and took questions from the floor after dinner. The Liberal Democrats are the party of fair taxes. Why should people on the minimum wage lose earnings via income tax? Chris emphasised the point that starting to pay income tax at £10,000 would remove several million from tax and benefit the typical taxpayer by £700. At the same time, it was right that tax loopholes were closed and those with properties over £2million pounds paid a fairer share.
Chris warned people that the Tories promise to repeat their 1980s mistake. He reminded everyone that in the 1980s recession, the Tories raised taxes and cut spending and though economic output began to rise after the collapse of 1980, it took 5-6 years before unemployment started to fall. A whole generation of young people were affected. The Liberal Democrats believe training is essential and money must be spent here.
Finally, Chris talked about protecting civil liberties from the threat of further surveillance and to the Human Rights Act.
Questions were asked on pensioner poverty, does parliament benefit from young MPs or older MPs with more experience and finally on the Copenhagen talks.
Chris emphasised the need to reduce fuel poverty which means people burn cash and carbon, the need to restore the link between earnings and the state pension, the need for a balance between young and older MPs and finally the "Zero Carbon by 2050" policy paper of the Lib Dems which set out the policy framework for achieving this aim, more than any other political party.