In her speech to conference today, Susan Kramer set out how we can build an economy fit for the future and attacked the Conservatives for only standing up for the wealthy elite and Labour for failing to offer a credible economic alternative. Find out more:

Today, Susan Kramer spoke at Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference in Brighton and talked about how we can build an economy fit for the future and launched an attack on the Conservatives for only standing up for the wealthy elite and Labour for failing to offer a credible economic alternative.

Susan began with a bit of history…

A few years ago, in 2014, a man by the name of George Osborne stood up at Tory Party Conference and announced that the Conservatives had a ‘long-term economic plan’.

It was a plan built on sorting out the financial mess, restoring business confidence, and showing that ‘Britain is open for business.’

… well that went well.

…and reminded everyone that the Tories have destroyed the coalition’s work on the economic recovery…

From May 2015 onwards George Osborne hollowed out the economic recovery.

He turned away from the Coalition’s work to put the economy on a path to recovery and instead embarked down a road he hoped would lead him to Downing Street.

…Unfortunately for him it led directly off a cliff.

He suffered a backlash, led by the Liberal Democrats, over his plans to cut Tax Credits.

He proposed plans to hit disabled people so hard even Iain Duncan Smith couldn’t stomach it.

…and reminded everyone of the economic consequences of Brexit…

Let’s be clear, Brexit poses the biggest existential threat to the long-term prospects of our economy in a generation.

Despite what David Davies or Boris Johnson will tell you about a ‘Brexit bounce back’, the underlying picture is already much, much worse than it was on June 22nd.

The pound has plummeted and stayed down- making all of us poorer.

…and pointed out just how toe-curlingly right wing this Tory Brexit Government is…

From appointing a Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who believes the minimum wage is “actively immoral” to proposing a return to an education system where young people’s futures are determined at age 11, she is leading a True Blue, Tory Government for the few not the many.

…Susan also questioned if Phillip Hammond can really be trusted to make sure companies pay their taxes…

When it comes to standing up to those who refuse to pay their fair share in tax- can Philip Hammond deliver on this?

Well, despite being one of the richest MPs in Parliament, it was reported by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme in 2010, that he has done “a Philip Green” and transferred shares to his wife – which can have the happy co-incidence of reducing one’s tax bill.

Certainty not illegal, but is it really the actions of a man willing to put the interests of Britain first, let alone to launch a crusade against corporate tax avoidance?

He too is no fan of the minimum wage- claiming, when it was introduced that it amounted to “a tax on business”.

…she also slammed Labour for their attitude to business and the single market…

Labour’s failures as an opposition are many, but nowhere is it more damaging than their ability to present a real economic alternative to the Conservatives. Instead of offering insight they attack business.

They sneer at those who run businesses, and seem content to refight the battles of the 1980s when it was the bosses versus the unions. Just recently he proposed scrapping a £1 billion tax allowance for research that supports companies developing new medicines.

In the 21st Century, when our economy is more reliant than ever before on new ideas and innovation, these are the actions of someone with a dislike for business.

McDonell has even, suggested that one of Britain’s most celebrated entrepreneurs, Sir Richard Branson, should lose his knighthood – in petty retaliation against Branson’s criticism of Jeremy Corbyn’s ability to find a seat on a train.

But most importantly of all, when it comes to our vital membership of the Single Market, he and Jeremy Corbyn want us to return to a little island, closed to free trade and the economic benefits it can bring.

…and set out how we can build an economy fit for the future…

We need an economy which works for us all- not one that works for a Tory election in 2020. Conference, our second priority must be to address the chronic lack of investment in infrastructure.

At a time of historically low interest rates we should be seeking to invest in building the roads, schools and hospitals we need.

And perhaps most importantly, we need to build the houses our county needs. Putting a roof over everyone’s head is not just a moral imperative but an economic one. We cannot go on building only half of the 150,000 homes we need each year.

We need to double that number. And that includes affordable rental and social housing. A sector gutted by Conservative policies.

I support home owners, but renters, let us tell the Tories are people too. That is why my Private Member’s Bill also includes rules requiring the Government to prioritise infrastructure spending- ensuring that future generations have the tools they need to compete.

And it is also why I believe we should start, by putting up to an extra £45 billion directly into house building over the next 5 years.
Enough to build the homes we need, and give everyone the stability they need to take advantage of opportunities.

…and Susan closed with a note on our record – and the Conservatives…

Conference, during Coalition we proved that we are an economically credible party.

Since leaving it the Conservatives have proved they are anything but.

Our country lacks both leadership and opposition at a time when it desperately needs both.

By embracing a vision of a better future, one focused on tackling inter-generational fairness, investing in infrastructure and ensuring no one is left behind by the changes working lives we can build an economy fit for the future.