More support for the NHS

Liberal Democrats want to recruit many more doctors and nurses in order to reduce waiting times.
We will reward low paid nurses by paying them more, and provide more hospital beds.
To keep people healthy we will scrap all charges for eye tests and dental check-ups, and ensure that many more people can get NHS dental treatment.
The Liberal Democrats are against plans by the Conservatives to force many more people to pay privately for treatment such as minor operations.

Boost pensioner incomes

Liberal Democrats believe older people should have security. We will increase the basic pension by a further £5 per week on top of the increase announced in the budget, or £10 for over 75s and £15 for over 80s. Pensions for couples will increase by £8, £18 or £28.
We will also give the elderly free personal care, so that they do not have to sell their house just to be fed, washed and dressed.
The Liberal Democrats will pay for this, and investment in the NHS, by raising the rate of tax from 40% to 50% for individual earnings over and above £100,000 per year.

Investing in education

Liberal Democrats are committed to a service that delivers a quality education from the cradle to the grave. We will reduce class sizes to 25 for all primary school children. We will recruit teachers, retain them and more importantly - value them.
We will cut red tape to give teachers more time in the classroom. We will scrap university tuition fees and restore grants. For the Liberal Democrats every child, every school and every student matters.
Liberal Democrats believe that investment in education is essential investment in the future. We would be prepared to raise income tax by 1p to pay for this essential investment.

Action on crime

Liberal Democrats are committed to reducing crime and violence, to making our courts and prisons work, and to defending people's freedoms.
To prevent more crime and to catch more criminals we need enough police in every community to do the job. That means 6000 more police - not just making up for cuts under Labour and the Tories.
To prevent prisoners reoffending, our prison system must prepare them properly for life and work in the outside world. Our courts must ensure that victims are not just heard but listened to.

The Countryside

Liberal Democrats will put life back into our rural communities. That means local shops and post offices; better bus and train services; affordable homes especially for our young people; and real jobs.
We will help farmers get back on their feet after the terrible times they have been through. People who live in the countryside should not be treated as second class citizens. They should expect to get the same rights and benefits as everyone else.

Liberal Democrats go from strength to strength

Liberal Democrats are now a party of government. As well as controlling the councils of big cities like Sheffield and Liverpool, we are part of the governments in Scotland and Wales.
There are more Liberal Democrat MPs than at any time since the 1920s.