LibDem conference to see regional pay plan protest

UK Political Correspondent

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Liberal Democrat members are set to protest against regional pay proposals at their annual conference this weekend – in a move party chiefs predicted could kill the plans.

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Kate Devlin UK Political Correspondent

The grassroots are expected to back a motion calling on Nick Clegg to "rule out" any expansion of the policy.

Simon Hughes, the LibDem deputy leader, said that party members had already been "fairly robust" in their opposition.

He said that if passed the motion would be a clear steer that regional pay was unacceptable to the LibDems, adding: "I imagine that would mean [the policy] was unlikely to proceed". Although he said he could not predict the outcome of negotiations with the Tories.Mr Clegg, as well as other leading LibDems, has already signalled his opposition to the plans. The idea was introduced under the last Labour government and is used in some courts services in England. However, the Coalition Government has suggested it be used much more widely, including in Scotland. Ministers say high wages in the public sector are draining talent from the private sector – adding to the stalled economic recovery. Opponents of the plans protest they would further depress already poor areas. Critics have also pointed out that female workers in Strathclyde stand to lose out the most if there is a push towards regional pay. They currently earn almost one-fifth more in the public than the private sector, official data show.Mr Hughes' comments came as Danny Alexander, the LibDem Chief Secretary to the Treasury, called for the income tax threshold, the level under which individuals pay no tax, to be raised to £10,000.The LibDems intend to emphasise their role in increasing tax thresholds at this year's conference, to be held in Brighton. Mr Hughes said the move in part was about the party setting itself as different from the Conservatives. He said: "It's fair to say it's about positioning ourselves, making sure people understand what we stand for, and what should be our priority as we end the first half of the Coalition and go into the second half."

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LibDem conference to see regional pay plan protest

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