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| Sir Menzies faces battle over tax | Sir Menzies faces battle over tax |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell is striving to avoid a blow to his authority as he puts his tax plans to a crunch vote at the party's conference. | Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell is striving to avoid a blow to his authority as he puts his tax plans to a crunch vote at the party's conference. |
| Opponents of his plans to ditch the party's commitment to a 50p top tax rate say they think they can win the vote in Brighton. | Opponents of his plans to ditch the party's commitment to a 50p top tax rate say they think they can win the vote in Brighton. |
| Sir Menzies wants to use new green taxes to fund cuts in income taxes. | Sir Menzies wants to use new green taxes to fund cuts in income taxes. |
| The tax debate comes as Charles Kennedy returns to the conference platform eight months after quitting as leader. | The tax debate comes as Charles Kennedy returns to the conference platform eight months after quitting as leader. |
| Mr Kennedy, who led the party to its best election result in 80 years in 2005, admitted a drink problem and quit after several frontbenchers said they would no longer serve under him. | Mr Kennedy, who led the party to its best election result in 80 years in 2005, admitted a drink problem and quit after several frontbenchers said they would no longer serve under him. |
| He is expected to win a warm reception from delegates but Lib Dem officials say they are not worried Sir Menzies could be overshadowed by his predecessor. | He is expected to win a warm reception from delegates but Lib Dem officials say they are not worried Sir Menzies could be overshadowed by his predecessor. |
| 'Moving beyond protest' | 'Moving beyond protest' |
| The Lib Dem leader told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he would be "disappointed" if he lost the tax vote, which has dominated debate in Brighton. | The Lib Dem leader told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he would be "disappointed" if he lost the tax vote, which has dominated debate in Brighton. |
| He said the vote result - due shortly before 1300 BST - would become party policy but it was up to the Lib Dem policy committee to decide whether it should feature in the next election manifesto. | He said the vote result - due shortly before 1300 BST - would become party policy but it was up to the Lib Dem policy committee to decide whether it should feature in the next election manifesto. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The Lib Dems must be clear about their policies, not like Labour and the Tories who dodge hard questions Bruce Castle, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The Lib Dems must be clear about their policies, not like Labour and the Tories who dodge hard questions Bruce Castle, London Send us your comments |
| Opposition to the leadership plans is being led by party science spokesman Evan Harris, who says he can carry the vote. | Opposition to the leadership plans is being led by party science spokesman Evan Harris, who says he can carry the vote. |
| He is proposing an amendment which would promise a 50p tax rate on earnings over £150,000, with the money used to take another 300,000 people out of paying tax. | He is proposing an amendment which would promise a 50p tax rate on earnings over £150,000, with the money used to take another 300,000 people out of paying tax. |
| 'Symbolism' | 'Symbolism' |
| Lib Dem deputy leader and Treasury spokesman Vince Cable opened the debate in a packed conference hall. | Lib Dem deputy leader and Treasury spokesman Vince Cable opened the debate in a packed conference hall. |
| He accused Mr Harris of taking the "popular bits" out of the Lib Dem tax pledges made at the last election. | He accused Mr Harris of taking the "popular bits" out of the Lib Dem tax pledges made at the last election. |
| "I ask you to choose substance and seriousness over symbols and sentiment," said Mr Cable. | "I ask you to choose substance and seriousness over symbols and sentiment," said Mr Cable. |
| I think we have got a chance of winning Evan HarrisOrganiser of tax plan opposition Conference at-a-glance Sketch: Sir Menzies questioned | I think we have got a chance of winning Evan HarrisOrganiser of tax plan opposition Conference at-a-glance Sketch: Sir Menzies questioned |
| Mike Ash, a councillor from Penrith, said keeping the 50p top rate would leave voters with the impression the party was "tax happy". | Mike Ash, a councillor from Penrith, said keeping the 50p top rate would leave voters with the impression the party was "tax happy". |
| But backing Mr Harris' amendment, Arnie Gibbons said it was those wanting to drop the top tax rate plan who were focusing on symbolism. | But backing Mr Harris' amendment, Arnie Gibbons said it was those wanting to drop the top tax rate plan who were focusing on symbolism. |
| "We don't have that many populist policies, let's not abandon one of the best," said Mr Gibbons, a member of the party's tax commission. | |
| "The 50p tax rate is not a gesture but abandoning it would be." | "The 50p tax rate is not a gesture but abandoning it would be." |
| And outside the hall, Lib Dem MP Phil Willis told the Yorkshire Post the leadership's tax plan could start the party on "a slippery slope towards more right-wing draconian policies". | And outside the hall, Lib Dem MP Phil Willis told the Yorkshire Post the leadership's tax plan could start the party on "a slippery slope towards more right-wing draconian policies". |
| Tax switch | Tax switch |
| Sir Menzies wants to focus on "taxing pollution, not people". | Sir Menzies wants to focus on "taxing pollution, not people". |
| Tax hikes for gas-guzzling cars and aviation would raise £8bn to help pay for the £18.7bn in tax cuts in other areas. | Tax hikes for gas-guzzling cars and aviation would raise £8bn to help pay for the £18.7bn in tax cuts in other areas. |
| The Lib Dems say they would take two million people out of paying income tax by scrapping the 10p bottom rate and raising the threshold for national insurance contributions. | The Lib Dems say they would take two million people out of paying income tax by scrapping the 10p bottom rate and raising the threshold for national insurance contributions. |
| There would also be a 2% cut in the basic income tax rate, a higher upper rate threshold of £50,000 and cutting corporation tax by 1%. | There would also be a 2% cut in the basic income tax rate, a higher upper rate threshold of £50,000 and cutting corporation tax by 1%. |
| The Lib Dems say 90% of taxpayers will benefit from the plans, with only the top 10% of earners paying more. | The Lib Dems say 90% of taxpayers will benefit from the plans, with only the top 10% of earners paying more. |
| The package is meant to have no overall effect on tax revenues. | The package is meant to have no overall effect on tax revenues. |
| But critics question whether there will be a black hole in the sums if the green taxes do succeed in changing people's polluting behaviour - something Lib Dem officials deny. | But critics question whether there will be a black hole in the sums if the green taxes do succeed in changing people's polluting behaviour - something Lib Dem officials deny. |