MP calls for freeze in spending, and gives cold shoulder to leadership bid
NORTH Somerset MP Dr Liam Fox says his call for a five-year public spending freeze is not an attempt to position himself to challenge the Prime Minister for the party leadership.
In a central London speech Dr Fox urged ministers to use the savings to cut taxes and the deficit, while also ending "ring fencing" of budgets such as health.
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Dr Liam Fox says a challenge to David Cameron would be madness
The Prime Minister gave the comments short shrift saying he was "never short of advice" and promised not to cut NHS spending.
Business Secretary Vince Cable also said Dr Fox's plan, which some commentators had interpreted as a rallying call to the Tory right ahead of a possible future leadership challenge, represented a "jihad" against public spending.
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The former Defence Secretary Dr Fox is the latest senior figure to urge a rethink of Coalition economic strategy.
It is at odds with calls for more investment in infrastructure projects to boost growth.
At present certain budgets, such as health, schools and international development, are protected from spending cuts, which Dr Fox said should end.
Speaking at the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank, he said: "Because we are over-taxed, over-regulated and we spend and borrow too much. I believe that we should aim to freeze public spending for at least three years and probably more."
But he rejected suggestions his speech amounted to a bid for the Tory leadership.
After the speech, he said: "I begin to wonder whether any of us can say anything about policy without it being interpreted by the media as something to do with a future, not yet declared leadership election."
Dr Fox, who ran for the Conservative Party leadership in 2005, said there was "no chance" of a challenge to David Cameron before the next election, as such a move would be "absolute madness".
Tim Montgomerie, who edits the ConservativeHome website, told The Post: "It must be possible for thoughtful Conservatives like Liam Fox to talk about big issues like the economy without people interpreting their contributions as leadership bids.
"People urge MPs to speak their minds but when they do they are accused of plotting or political positioning. They can't win."
Dr Fox's speech comes just over a week before the next Budget.
Speaking during a visit to Milton Keynes to launch National Apprenticeship Week, David Cameron said: "As Prime Minister I'm never short of advice."
He added that his Government faced "difficult decisions" over departmental spending and it was "absolutely right that we have got a plan to get on top of our deficit".
7 Comments
by green_man
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 3:32PM
“'At present certain budgets, such as health, schools and international development, are protected from spending cuts, which Dr Fox said should end.'
So damaging people who are ill, reducing wellbeing which should be our key indicator of social progess, harming children who are learning, reducing knowledge that is the basis of progress, and ignoring the poorest in the world who are desperate for clean water and something to eat...Well done Liam Fox for making it crystal clear what right-wing, free market Toryism is.”
by nickthompson
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 6:19PM
“A former High Court judge has dismissed an appeal by shadow defence secretary
Liam Fox against a finding that he was overpaid more than £22,000 in parliamentary expenses for mortgage interest on his second home.
Dr Fox challenged the Legg Report's finding that he was overpaid by £22,476.03 after increasing the mortgage on his London flat from £120,000 to £300,000, using most of the capital to pay for a family home in his Woodspring constituency and to refurbish his second home.-----------------------------------So there we have it then,this would be thief coaching Dave, and Gideon on how to hurt the middle earner's the poor,not to mention our disabled, even more than they have already, I do hope those that voted for this parasite remember his utterings at the next General Election.”
by Richard34
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 12:08PM
“.. But Mr Ferguson said Labour had "lost their right to criticise" by not joining his cross-party cabinet. Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore defended the deal, saying councils "must be determined to cut waste and inefficiency in order to deliver best value for money to the taxpayer".
http://tinyurl.com/cahrh2z
This is the problem. Chris Skidmore is helping to make these Whitehall decisions but the young man has never worked outside of a life of Theory and writing about history. How on earth can someone strait out of education hold a city to account?
Ref. http://tinyurl.com/d4w7vtj
While decisions are being made by think tanks without any life experience, real charities which deliver on a shoe string budget; youth organisations which have made a difference and council employees who have made real change have all been flushed away while off shore investors and various quango's live 007 lifestyles.
Meanwhile they've cashed in on the 'Big Society' to and almost demanded that all volunteers need to do 50% more to keep these play boys lifestyle's nice and their glasses topped up with champagne.”
by pigdog
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:32AM
“I disagree with his proposal in the speech that suspending CGT will support economic growth. CGT will allow individuals to sell assets but this will not release significant cash into business investment that could produce jobs and growth.
I think government needs to underwrite investment in new plant in promising UK manufacturing SME's. If we can get 10% of manufacturing SME's to improve efficiency, take on 1 extra skilled or semi skilled employee, and export or make a product here instead of an imported one, we will quickly make a lasting difference.
Banks are building up their cash reserves, as they have been instructed to, and asset finance needs to be made cheaper than the banks are prepared to charge.”
by BedmoBanjo
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:28AM
“Liam Fox: Thief, creep and clearly in the pay of American health insurance providers. What a sellout t*rd.”
by ManicPontiff
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:40AM
“Another rant from an extreme right wing tory who demonstrates so eloquently how out of touch his party is with the electorate. I for one can't wait to see them voted out at the next election”
by Richard34
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:30AM
“Fairness would be a start. A word which David Cameron has used time and again, especially before he became the Prime Minister. What is fairness?
Well, for a start, it's being considerate towards those cities which generate so much revenue that they should get a better deal. Take Bristol for example, a city which generate's so much wealth that it possibly props up most of the South West but all Bristol get's from the current leadership is demand for cuts which has an impact on local services while other cities in the UK which do not generate nearly as much wealth see less cuts.
It's like putting a blunt knife through the goose which laid the golden eggs.”