A decade of complacency by Gordon Brown has meant that with falling growth, rising inflation and high unemployment, the outlook for the UK economy has not looked so bleak since the Tory recession of the 1980s.
Craig Dobson says, "We want to offer real help to the millions of families trying to make ends meet; so we will get wasteful government spending under control and give the economy a boost by cutting taxes for people from the bottom up. We will also regulate the banking system to prevent irresponsible lending and business practices.
The Liberal Democrats will shift the economy away from the traditional over-reliance on the City of London and on financial services. Our plans will usher in a new era, where growth is enabled in every part of Britain in a way that promotes green technology and creates lasting jobs.
We will put an end to the casino banking that caused the financial crisis by breaking up the banks and encouraging regional and local ways to bring competition back to the financial sector.
Under our plans, councils will regain control of business rates, reconnecting local enterprise with local politics; Local Enterprise Funds will help people invest in growing businesses and Regional Stock Exchanges will give companies a way to move into public equity without the huge risks and costs of a London listing.
The Liberal Democrats will also create a new National Infrastructure Bank to bring in private money to build the transport links, energy grid and public buildings we need for a sustainable, low carbon economy in every part of Britain."
The picture shows Dr Craig Dobson at Beverley market, discussing the impact of the recession with Mayor-elect Bessie Foot and Councillor David Horsley.
