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Commenting on recent GDP figures, which show the economy shrank by 0.4% between July and September, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said:
“For all the hopes of a quick recovery, these figures make it clear we are still in the longest and what could yet become the deepest recession on record.
“For all that has been thrown at the economy to try and stimulate a recovery it is clear that massive structural problems remain, particularly in the banking sector. This news adds to serious concerns over the realism of Government plans to deal with the burgeoning public debt. It is critical ministers spell out a credible path as to how they will deal with the deficit. With the legacy of unemployment likely to remain for years after the end of the recession, we need radical measures to avoid repeating the mistakes of the 1990s which left millions on the scrap heap.”
With thousands of families across Stamford and Grantham struggling to cope with the recession and unemployment, it is crucial that they see leadership and real action to deal with the affects of recession, providing genuine support, new opportunities and jobs. This Government is struggling to meet the aspirations of those worst affected and that means they are failing people in their hour of need. When leadership and action is expected they get the response of a head-less chicken and that just isn’t good enough.
Labour has taken us into five wars.
Afghanistan is going into its ninthyear – almost as long as the two world wars combined. Yet under Labour, 13,000 of the lowest ranking personnel earn less than £17,000. More than 51,000 earn less than the salaries of trainee police and firefighters. General Sir Richard Dannatt, the former Chief of the Army, has said that Britain has “seriously stretched our soldiers to the very limit”.
Former Chief of Defence Staff General Lord Charles Guthrie has said those on the front line feel betrayed by ministers and mandarins in Whitehall. In July Nick Clegg made clear that troops needed more pay and resources and, for the first time, openly questioned what our objectives were in Afghanistan. New Lib Dem policy will give the 13,000 lowest paid a £6,000-a year pay rise, while the salaries of fully-trained privates and lance corporals will rise to £25,000. We will pay for this by cutting desk jobs in the MoD where currently there is one civil servant for every two service personnel.
