Clegg faces party showdown over tax in UK

by Dave Keating | September 14, 2008 at 10:55 pm | 88 views | add comment | 0 recommendations

Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg in Henley with Stephen Kearney

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who has recently unveiled a plan to take his party further to the right in a bid to gain mainstream appeal, will be facing harsh criticism at his party's upcoming conference. Many in the Liberal Democrat party are fearful of what the shift will mean for the future cohesion - and purpose - of the party.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg faces a conference showdown over tax cuts on Monday with dissident party members challenging him over a key manifesto commitment.

Party opponents fear plans to find tax savings out of a review of 20 billion pounds of government expenditure will take the LibDems towards the right and away from their centre-left traditions, a charge Clegg fiercely denies.

The policy forms the keystone of the party's planned manifesto for the next election, due by early 2010, and Clegg has invested significant political capital in getting the proposals accepted.