Lib Dems protect services - Clegg

2011-04-16 15:47:33

16 April 2011 Last updated at 11:24 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Clegg attacks Labour and Tory councils at poll rally Mr Clegg said the Lib Dems were on the side of 'alarm clock Britain' Continue reading the main story Vote 2011 Clegg fights back with NHS pledge UK 'won't block' Scots referendum Robinson says DUP win 'for Kerr' Cable attacks 'ruthless' Tories

Lib Dem councils in England are doing a better job of protecting services than Labour and Conservative ones, Nick Clegg has argued as he rallies party candidates ahead of local elections.

The deputy prime minister said no Lib Dem-controlled council was closing a children's centre or a library.

He also accused Labour town halls of "slash and burn" tactics and Tory councils of "mistakes" locally.

Labour accuse the Lib Dems and their Tory allies of penalising poorer areas.

The Conservative-Lib Dem coalition is reducing central funding to councils, as part of its package of spending cuts aimed at tackling the UK's budget deficit.

Lib Dem councillors have expressed anger that the budget squeeze has made them vulnerable in local elections on 5 May - with more than 90 criticising the scale and speed of cuts expected of local authorities in a letter to the Times in February.

'Minimum pain'

The number of Lib Dems putting themselves up for election is also down on 2007, according to figures released this month.

But addressing candidates in Sheffield - a Lib Dem-controlled council and the area Mr Clegg represents in Parliament - the Lib Dem leader pointed to successes in Coalition government.

"We have taken nearly 900,000 of the lowest paid workers out of paying any income tax whatsoever. And we have given 23 million basic-rate taxpayers a £200 cash tax cut. Straight from the front page of our manifesto to the pockets of millions of taxpayers," he told those assembled.

"We're on the side of alarm-clock Britain. We're on the side of people who get up early, work hard, play by the rules.

"We're on the side of people who don't want to rely on the state, but want to know their children will get a decent education and their parents can enjoy retirement without fear and insecurity."

He also said his party's councillors were taking a more responsible approach to savings than their Labour and Conservative counterparts.

Continue reading the main story “Start Quote

When the Conservatives have local priorities that are not our priorities, we should say so”

End Quote Nick Clegg Lib Dem leader In depth: Vote 2011

Mr Clegg said councils such as Sheffield, Portsmouth and Bristol had minimised redundancies and protected libraries and Sure Start centres but accused various Labour controlled councils of "slash and burn", closing libraries and facilities.

"Our councillors up and down the country are proving that, even in tough times, we can do great things," he said. "We are making difficult decisions with compassion and intelligence, keeping pain to a minimum and protecting the people who need the most help."

'Politics before honesty'

He reserved his sharpest attacks for Labour, singling out leader Ed Milliband and shadow chancellor Ed Balls for criticism.

He accused them of "putting politics before honesty" over their strategy towards reducing the UK's deficit.

They are putting politics first and acting "like the last 13 years simply didn't happen", he said.

"Politics before people, politics before communities, politics before jobs, where there should be policies there is opportunism.

"Where there should be regrets there is denial. Where there should be answers, there is nothing."

Mr Clegg also urged his activists to "take the fight" to the Conservatives, but unlike with Labour, contained his criticism to Tory-controlled councils.

He accused two Conservative-controlled councils of rejecting Lib Dem proposals to help protect libraries and subsidised bus services.

"Working together in the national interest does not mean we agree on everything. And it doesn't mean we shouldn't be taking the fight to the Tories in the local elections," he said.

"When the Conservatives have local priorities that are not our priorities, we should say so.

"When the Conservatives are making mistakes locally, we should say so."

Values

Mr Clegg said the Lib Dems "earned their stripes" in local government and, despite having to make tough and controversial decisions nationally, ministers were driven by the "same values" as their local colleagues and remained focused on helping those most in need.

Labour have said poorer areas will be disproportionately affected by the budget squeeze and their councils will be "the first line of defence" against cuts.

While conceding councils are facing "incredibly tough" choices, Mr Cameron has said Conservative town halls have proved they provide value for money and get things done on housing, enterprise, recycling and children's facilities.

More than 9,500 council seats are being contested in next month's poll - the largest test of public opinion since last year's general election.

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