Member News
By Tony Grew - 18th September 2011
The chief secretary to the Treasury has called outlined the Liberal Democrat vision for a "sustainable, balanced, competitive and fair" economy.
Speaking to the party’s annual conference in Birmingham, Danny Alexander also announced an extra £100m for local authority housing and a new £500m 'Growing Places Fund' that will focus on "key infrastructure and unlock development and create jobs".
"A huge deficit, an unbalanced economy, our trading partners in real difficulty," Alexander said.
"These are very big problems.
"Solving them will take years, and every one of us has a role to play. To support growth, to help families under pressure.
"As Liberal Democrats, our judgments about what needs to be done should be driven by the liberal economy we want to build.
"Sustainable, balanced, competitive, fair. To get there we must break down the vested interests – the enemies of growth that stand in the way of future prosperity."
Alexander said business is being held back by congested roads, slow railways and inadequate broadband.
The £500m growth fund will provide a one off upfront capital investment to kick start developments that are stalled due to cash flow problems or lack of confidence.
"Putting local areas in the driving seat, enabling local government to invest in the key strategic infrastructure projects that they have identified as priorities and getting people into work," he said.
"Unlocking local growth by freeing business to grow, driving forward local infrastructure, and freeing councils to support housing.
"Liberal Democrats in government, on your side."
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
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