Top Lib Dem donor quits party in tax row
James Forsyth 5:52pm
Sam Coates breaks the news that Lord Jacobs, the Lib Dem’s biggest donor, is quitting the party. But reading about his policy dispute with the party, one wonders why he was a Lib Dem in the first place. Sam reports that:
“His beef is that he wants Clegg to go further on tax, taking the lowest paid out of tax altogether but also reducing the rates for higher earners. The party is reluctant to raise employers national insurance by the required amount to pay for it, and relations have clearly broken down. Now Lord Jacobs wants to be free to hawk his tax plan around Labour and the Tories - and he isn't ruling out joining another party.”
Considering that until Clegg’s leadership, the Lib Dems were to the left of Labour on tax it is puzzling that Jacobs was previously happy to donate money to the party. It seems most odds to leave the party just at the moment that the Lib Dems seem to be inching in his direction.
Jacobs has met with top figures in both the Labour and Tory parties. I suspect that George Obsorne and Gordon Brown, who are both mildly obsessed with defections, would very much like to reel him in. But given Jacobs’ policy demands, it is hard to see how either of them could win him over.
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Charlie T
December 7th, 2008 7:10pm Report this commentI agree with Jacobs.People earning less than at least £15,000 shouldn't pay tax at all. Its weird that left wingers think people on what they call poverty pay should then be taxed on it.
With a tax free allowance of between £15,000 to £20,000 there would be greater incentive to work. Another bonus is that Browns Byzantium bureaucratic new tax credit farce (which is wide open to abuse) could also be ditched.
mitch
December 7th, 2008 7:15pm Report this commenter? so what ,they are irrelevant.
Steve
December 7th, 2008 8:15pm Report this commentDon't knock Osborne's obsession with defections. Over the past fifteen years the Tories have been rocked by defections to Labour, the Lib Dems, the far right and practically anyone who would take them. When Quentin Davies defected it was hardly a big deal because it had happened so many times before.Labour and the Lib Dems have not suffered defections to the same extent. The Tories should be actively courting Milburn, Hoey, Fields, Marshall-Andrews, Adonis even Clegg himself. If they could net a big fish, it would send a clear signal that the prospect of a Conservative victory at the next general election is unstoppable.
strapworld
December 7th, 2008 9:45pm Report this commentI hope the tories can convince the Lib Dems to defect to the tories. There is not much between them these days.
It would be a great day for democracy and the end of the labour party. Clegg for shadow foreign secretary. Hague for shadow home secretary. Cable shadow chancellor. the talents together would be so attractive to the electorate.
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