Liberal Democrats on the party’s left are preparing to rebel against the coalition Government’s policies on schools and the economy at the party’s autumn conference next month.
Tribune has learned that Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander was moved to intervene in the wording of a motion calling for Lib Dem ministers to be able to work freely on policies that would increase wealth taxes.
But the most direct challenge to the Government comes in a motion criticising the growth of academies and condemning Education Secretary Michael Gove’s plans for Swedish-style free schools as “wasting precious resources”.
The motions, which by rule form the basis of party policy, were published as a ComRes poll this week put Lib Dem support at just 16 per cent.
A wide-ranging motion on “ensuring fairness in a time of austerity” praises the Government for policies such as raising the income tax allowance and the rate of capital gains tax, but also calls on Lib Dem ministers to “ensure that the most vulnerable in society are not disproportionately affected by the Government’s austerity measures”.
Ministers should have “freedom and resources to commission research to fully assess the viability and practicalities of increasing taxation on wealth – including land values”, it adds, before calling for more investment in youth education and training to prevent a “lost generation”.
James Graham, a former party executive member who will move the motion, told Tribune: “The purpose is to say yes, there are good things in the Budget but we need to do more.
“We’ve turfed out all the employment schemes. It’s not clear what we’re going to be doing on education schemes. If you’re between the ages of 15 and 25, you could be forgiven for thinking the Government has written you off.”
On seeing the motion, Mr Alexander contacted the party’s policy office and following an “amicable” discussion, a clause was added welcoming reforms to the Office of Budget Responsibility.
Another motion will urge Lib Dems not to take up the Government’s offer to parents and others to set up free schools, which it says “risks wasting precious resources, both human and material, at a time when all efforts should be focused on improving educational outcomes”.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne may face criticism at conference after promising a new generation of nuclear power stations in eight years – despite having called nuclear technology “tried, tested and failed” in opposition.
