Huppert pushes Prime Minister to commit to Lib Dem policy to help poorly paid (East of England Liberal Democrats)

East of England Liberal Democrats <info@eastlibdems.org.uk>

Huppert pushes Prime Minister to commit to Lib Dem policy to help poorly paid

February 1, 2012 2:41 PM
Originally published by Cambridge Liberal Democrats

Cambridge MP, Julian Huppert has received the Prime Minister's commitment to a Liberal Democrat promise to make sure millions of poorly paid people don't pay income tax.

David Cameron told Julian that he was proud that the low pay of 1.1 million was already free of tax and he was committed to making more progress on this issue.

Julian quizzed Mr Cameron on the Liberal Democrat priority during Prime Minister's Questions today (Wednesday, February 1) in the House of Commons.

He said: "The Liberal Democrat plan to increase the income tax threshold to £10,000 was on the front page of our manifesto. It will give many working people £700 a year and lift many poorly paid people out of income tax altogether.

"At a time when many working people are struggling to make ends meet, will the Prime Minister move further and faster on this much-needed tax cut?"

Mr Cameron told Julian he was right to raise this issue.

"I am proud of the fact that we have taken 1.1 million people out of tax," he said. Those are some of the lowest paid people in our country and the majority of them are women. We are committed to making more progress during this Parliament with this policy."

Julian said later: "This is a real commitment from the government to a policy which was at the heart of the Liberal Democrats' election promises. We made this promise because we knew how so many lower paid people in this country were struggling to make ends meet against an unfair tax system.

"I am delighted that the Prime Minister has recognised the important of this issue and given his personal commitment to make it happen quickly."