Party's helped to make difference

What have the Liberal Democrats ever done for us?

The Chancellor’s autumn statement cast a pretty gloomy picture. The economic crisis caused by the banks, who were allowed to get away with just about anything under Labour, has been worsened by the Eurozone crisis, caused by governments not being able to meet their debts.

It’s clear that the deficit reduction plan, however difficult it is to swallow, has won the confidence of the markets.

Despite massive debts the UK is not in the same mess as Greece, Italy, Spain, Ireland or Portugal. But we have a new challenge to meet – making sure the economy is growing and unemployment goes down.

In amongst the gloomy forecasts and list of depressing numbers, there were several announcements aimed at kickstarting the economy.

The Youth Contract, a £1 billion fund to get young people into work, was announced.

That will benefit 3,830 youngsters in Northamptonshire.

Youth unemployment has been rising for a decade and in these tough times it is crucial that we make sure a generation is not left behind.

Another big new idea was the £30b infrastructure boost – new homes, roads and railways, paid for in part by investment from pension funds.

In our county that means the A14 at Kettering and the Corby link road get the go-ahead. The regional growth fund, a pot of money to boost the economy and jobs outside London, has been upped by £1b.

Poorer families will also get a boost thanks to 15 hours free childcare provision for all two year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds.

That will benefit 1,700 children here in Northamptonshire.

Meanwhile the banks are being made to pay more as the banking levy has been increased.

One thing all these welcome policies have in common – they are all Liberal Democrat ideas.

In fact, many of the Coalition Government’s best policies have been Liberal Democrat inspired.

Take for example the income tax threshold rise – taking millions out of tax altogether and giving millions more families a tax cut.

That was straight from the cover of the Liberal Democrat manifesto.

As too was the pupil premium – more money for our schools, spent on the poorest pupils to give everyone a fair start in life – £2.5b nationally by 2015 and £6.5 million this year for Northamptonshire’s schools.

The triple lock on pensions and the earnings link restored, broken by the last Labour government if you remember (which gave us the insulting 75p a week rise in pensions). Liberal Democrat action has given the biggest ever cash rise in pensions this coming year.

The list goes on – Trident delayed, the intrusive and expensive ID card system scrapped.

Environmental action like the £3b green investment bank to boost new technology and cut carbon emissions and the Green Deal offering home-owners insulation to keep bills down.

It is unnatural for many Liberal Democrats to share power with the Conservatives.

But without the Lib Dems fighting in Government the Tories would have dismantled our health services and scrapped our human rights.

When I joined the Liberal Democrats I did so because I wanted to see a fairer, freer, greener Britain.

Behind all the gloom, that is what the Liberal Democrats are working hard in Coalition Government to achieve.

This week’s guest columnist is leader of the Liberal Democrats at

Northamptonshire County Council Cllr Brendan Glynane