LIBERAL Democrats in Wales have been accused of trying to cover up a U-turn on tuition fees.
In an email obtained by the Labour Party, Lib Dem Welsh president and chair of his party's national executive committee Rob Humphreys says he thinks his own party's treasury spokesman Vince Cable is "softening up" the public for an abandonment of the policy of scrapping frees. He says the policy can not be paid for under his party's new tax plans and goes on to say the Liberals in Wales will have to be "mindful" of this issue.
Labour Cardiff North Assembly candidate Sophie Howe accused the Lib Dems of trying to cover up the policy U-turn. She said the email showed Liberal spending plans did not add up.
SOPHIE HOWE said:
"This is a clear and unambiguous statement from an extremely senior Liberal Democrat in Wales that his own party's spending plans do not add up.
"Rob Humphreys has admitted that his own party's new taxation plans mean that it will not be able to continue standing for election with a promise to scrap tuition fees.
"Only last week the Welsh Lib Dem leader welcomed his party's new taxation plans, yet remained silent on the issue of tuition fees.
"It is clear from this email that the Liberal Democrats in Wales want this covered up so that they can continue peddling their dodgy policies in university towns and cities. The Lib Dems can't be trusted. They try to be all things to all people but end up simple as the party without a soul.
"This blows a hole in the main plank of Liberal Democrat policy. The Lib Dems should come clean and admit that they no longer believe in scrapping tuition fees".
Ends
Comments