THE LibDems have unveiled a manifesto pledge to get Britain back into the single market – opening them up to accusations they have “abandoned their commitment to rejoining the European Union”.
Speaking at the launch of his party’s manifesto in central London on Monday, LibDem leader Ed Davey said: “Once ties of trust and friendship have been renewed, and the damage the Conservatives have caused to trade between the UK and EU has begun to be repaired, we would aim to place the UK-EU relationship on a more formal and stable footing by seeking to join the single market.”
Some countries like Norway and Iceland are not EU members but are part of the single market.
The single market is based on the “four freedoms” which means the free movement of goods, capital, services and people.
The SNP blasted the LibDems for failing to commit to re-joining the European Union.
Lucy Beattie, the party’s candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross said: “The Liberal Democrat manifesto launch was missing one key commitment: a return to the European Union.
“Despite claiming to be a pro-European party, it's clear the Liberal Democrats have abandoned their commitment to rejoining the European Union, and rebuilding our relationship with our EU allies.
"The people of Scotland voted overwhelming to remain within the European Union, but were dragged out against their will by Westminster. It's clear only the SNP offer that route back.”
The 116-page-long document also outlines how the party want to fund a £9.4 billion package for the NHS and social care in England by increasing taxes for banks and closing loopholes used by the super-rich.
But the SNP called on Davey (above) to own up to his party’s role in the coalition government’s austerity agenda.
Beattie added: “Sir Ed Davey has also failed to accept responsibility for his party's part in the last fourteen years of austerity – given they stood side-by-side with the architects of austerity, and abandoned their commitment to abolishing tuition fees which would have benefited millions of students across England and Wales.”
The LibDems said they had put health and social care at the heart of their offering to the electorate.
Davey said: “Caring has been in the shadows for too long, and I’m proud that, as a party, we have brought it into the light.
Pointing to his own experiences as a carer, he said: “The truth is, unless we properly value care, unless we properly support carers, we will never be able to fix the crisis in our NHS or get our economy back on track.
“And that’s why I’m so proud the Liberal Democrats have put health and care at the heart of our campaign in this General Election, and at the heart of our manifesto too.”
On taxes, the party promises to raise the money needed for its investment plans by:
- Reversing Tory tax cuts for the big banks, restoring Bank Surcharge and Bank Levy revenues to 2016 levels in real terms
- Increasing the Digital Services Tax on social media firms and other tech giants from 2% to 6%
- Fairly reforming capital gains tax to close loopholes exploited by the super wealthy
- Introducing a 4% tax on the share buyback schemes of FTSE-100 listed companies, to incentivise productive investment, job creation and economic growth.
On political reform, Davey told the launch his party would end the first-past-the-post voting system in favour of “fair votes with proportional representation”.
He said this would also involve “getting big money out of politics with a cap on donations to political parties, shifting power out of the centre”.
The SNP, the Tories and Labour are also expected to set out their election pledges this week.
