Lib Dem manifesto praised by serious media commentators (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dem manifesto praised by serious media commentators

April 15, 2010 5:30 PM

Liberal Democrat Manifesto for 2010 General Election

Liberal Democrat manifesto 2010

The launch of the Liberal Democrats' manifesto for the 2010 general election contains costings of all the commitments, which immediately distinguishes it from the manifestos of all other parties. Though both Labour and the Conservatives have cast doubt on some of the costings, the Institute for Fiscal Studies have confirmed that they are accurate, saying: " The Liberal Democrat manifesto contains more extensive and more detailed tax and spending proposals than those of the other main UK parties."

Other comments include the Guardian: "The Lib Dems are well aware of the stakes. For their moment in the spotlight, they chose a focused, costed and serious political message."

The Mirror: "The [Liberal Democrats] deserve credit for costing its promises... unlike the Tories who hid their sums because they know the figures don't add up."

BBC: "They've got by far the most ambitious tax and spending plans."

Evening Standard: "Their manifesto launch today was refreshingly candid in its clear focus on the deficit and the recession, subjects largely fudged by Labour and the Tories in their manifestos this week."

Martin Kettle in The Guardian wrote: "The Liberal Democrat manifesto is about facts and figures and pledges."

The Financial Times - 15th April 2010: "It is a pitch to the electorate that includes the most generous tax giveaway and the most explicit public spending cuts offered by any of the main parties."

The Telegraph - 14th April 2010: The most impressive part of the Liberal Democrat manifesto is its final few pages…The Lib Dems set out, in detail, how they plan to start reducing the deficit."

Adam Boulton - Sky news - April 14th 2010: "Its unique selling point is the tables of tax spending and saving proposals included at the back...they are the only main party to open themselves to direct scrutiny in this way."

The New Statesman - 14th April 2010: "They have produced what should be hailed as a credible economic programme… The Lib Dems say with some justification that they are the only party to have fully costed their plans without any reference to "efficiency savings". This is likely to enhance their growing popularity."

Channel 4 Fact Check - 14th April 2010: "The Lib Dems' manifesto does indeed include more detail on tax and spending policies than either Labour or the Tories."

You can view the Lib Dem manifesto by clicking on the bar at the top of this page.