Sir Richard Branson backs Conservative economic plans

Many of the papers report comments by made by the country's best known entrepreneur, the Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, which are highly supportive of the Conservative medicine being prescribed for the economy.

He gave his backing to the economists who backed George Osborne's strategy for reducing the deficit on Sunday, saying:

"I believe the UK's record budget deficit does pose a serious risk to our recovery. It would be damaging if we lost the confidence of the markets through delayed action, and saw interest rates have to go up steeply."

"We are going to have to cut our spending and I agree with the 20 leading economists who said we need to start this year. The next government, whatever party that is, must set out a plan to reduce the bulk of the deficit over a parliament by cutting wasteful spending and must not put off those tough decisions to next year.

"These factors threaten to undermine the confidence of international and UK businesses, consumers and the global financial markets. That could cost jobs and reduce investment in Britain. We must send a clear signal that we have the issues in hand and a clear strategy for UK plc."

George Osborne naturally welcomed Sir Richard's backing for the economic strategy he is pursuing :

“Sir Richard Branson’s support for our economic policy of early action to deal with Britain’s debts is hugely welcome. As Britain’s best known entrepreneur, he knows more about creating jobs and building an economic recovery than the entire Labour Cabinet put together.

“The whole country will want to pay attention to his warning that Gordon Brown’s approach could mean lost jobs, higher mortgage rates and less investment in Britain. Coming just 48 hours after the country’s 20 leading economists made exactly the same argument, the momentum for change is growing every day.”

What we must do to get our economy back on its feet

This evening George Osborne gave the annual Mais lecture, which is a big event in the economic calendar. He recorded the video below just before delivering the lecture.



Our argument is that the debt-fuelled economic model pursued by the Government over the last decade is broken and that we need a new economic model where we save and invest for the future.

Most importantly we need to deal with our debts in order to get our economy back on its feet.

After 13 years, it's clear that Labour have failed on fairness

This weekend Gordon Brown presented the Labour choice for the coming election. He claimed that the Labour Party is "for the many, not the few" - but I don't think that's true.

How can he say that with a straight face when it is the many who have suffered from their irresponsible management of the economy? It is the many who have had their taxes blown on pointless programmes and initiatives, and who will be paying back Labour's debts for years to come.



How can Labour be the party of the many when under their watch it has been the many who have been victims of crime? When it is the many who can't get on the housing ladder, or find a good school place for their children?

Brown asks Britain to "take a second look at Labour", but we've been looking at them for thirteen years and this is what we've seen. It's clear that five more years of Gordon Brown won't change anything.

It's the Conservatives who are now the progressive force in British politics, as David Cameron explains in this video. We're not the party of the few - or even of the many. We are the party for everyone.

10 Reasons why you should consider voting Conservative.

Millions of people had high hopes when Labour got elected in 1997. But the truth is that this Government hasn’t made Britain a fairer society. The gap between the rich and poor has grown, we’ve still got old people who can’t heat their homes when it’s cold, and the school system is still letting down too many children. We can’t go on like this.

A Conservative government will get to grips with the root causes of our social problems and build a safer, fairer, greener society where opportunity is more equal.

1. The NHS – our number one priority
   We believe in a National Health Service that is free and available to everyone in our society. Unlike Labour, we will increase spending on healthcare every year.
   
   
2. Dealing with Labour’s Debt Crisis
   Labour are spending more on debt interest repayments than on tackling child poverty. We will cut the deficit quicker than Labour, and begin sooner, so we can spend your taxes on the things that matter. Conservative plans will help keep mortgage rates lower for longer.
   
   
3. Creating new jobs
   Unemployment has gone up under Labour and one in five young people now can’t find a job. We will Get Britain Working by creating 450,000 new apprenticeships, college and training places over two years. As part of our plan to build a more balanced economy, where Britain makes things again, new businesses will pay no tax on the first ten jobs they create.
   
   
4. Protecting the poorest
   Under Labour the poor have got poorer, with 900,000 more people living in severe poverty. We will keep the minimum wage, child benefit, tax credits, and other measures to help working families, and take action to deal with the long-term causes of poverty.
   
   
5. Supporting families
   Under Labour, we have the highest family breakdown in Europe. We will support marriage in the tax system and end the couple penalty in the tax credit system, extend flexible working to all families with children under the age of 18, and recruit 4,200 more Sure Start health visitors to give families the support they need.
   
   
6. Giving every child a good education
   Under Labour, the gap between the exam results of children from rich and poor backgrounds has widened. We will create new schools to raise standards for all children, with extra money for children from the poorest families.
   
   
7. Helping keep bills down & clamping down on consumer rip-offs
   The recession has made it more difficult to make ends meet. We will work with local authorities to freeze council tax for two years. Our ‘green deal’ will give people energy-saving equipment to reduce energy bills. We will stop store cards charging excessive interest rates and prevent energy companies from making unfair profits on prepayment meters.
   
   
8. Fairness for pensioners
   One in five pensioners are living in poverty under Labour. We will increase the State Pension every year and link it back to earnings, and protect Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. We will keep the winter fuel allowance, free TV licences and free bus passes.
   
   
9. Fighting back against crime
   Under Labour you are three times more likely to be a victim of violent crime if you live in a deprived area. We will cut paperwork and get police out on the street, end Labour’s scheme of allowing prisoners out early, and make it clear that anyone caught carrying a knife can expect to be prosecuted and face a prison sentence.
   
   
10. Building more affordable homes
    There are 700,000 more on housing waiting lists than when Labour came to office. We will give councils and communities powerful new financial incentives to build more affordable homes. We will also protect and respect the rights and security of social housing tenants.

Gordon Brown's death tax

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley says that ministers are secretly planning a "death tax" of up to £20,000 per head to pay for their plans for a National Care Service.

"Gordon Brown needs to come clean with the public and say how he will fund his new National Care Service", Lansley said.

"Behind closed doors Ministers are secretly planning a death tax of up to £20,000 per head which would be levied on the estates of grieving families."

Lansley added that even this death tax would not raise enough to pay for this new National Care Service, meaning that Labour are also planning to take away cash disability benefits from the elderly and cut money from the NHS. "It is another top-down, bureaucratic, costly plan from Labour for which every one of us would end up paying the price", he said.

Philip Hammond, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, described the problem this death tax would cause: "When you die, a Labour Government would take £20,000 from what you leave to your children and family. For those with the most modest savings Labour’s plans could leave them with nothing."

In contrast, he said the Conservatives want to help people in old age so that they can "leave as much of their lifetime’s savings as possible to the next generation".

"We will offer people the chance to pay a one off premium of £8,000 into a voluntary scheme to cover the cost of residential care in old age. So under our plans no-one would be forced to sell their home to pay for care."