Clarke, Clegg and Campbell - what more do we know?
So we heard from all three of the larger parties on , but what have we learned from my interviews with Ken Clarke, Nick Clegg and Alan Campbell?
Public sector: Labour say they would cut more slowly and sensibly than the other two parties, the Lib Dems say they would only cut deeply once the economy was on safe ground, the Conservatives say cuts are inevitable and necessary but they will manage them to avoid sending the country back into recession.
Unemployment: The Lib Dems say they'd get young people back to work by offering training, work or education automatically if a young person has been unemployed for nine months. The Conservatives say they'll rationalise and cut taxes on business; Labour say they'll do more of the same, but are the party to trust to put the economy back on track.
North-South divide: The Conservatives say it's widened because of Labour's obsession with the City of London and financial services, the Lib Dems say it still exists because Labour has failed to tackle inequality over the last 13 years. Labour say they've made significant progress and will be the party most likely to narrow the gap in the future.
Nuclear power: Labour say they will look to build new nuclear power stations in Cumbria and Hartlepool. The Conservatives say new nuclear power stations will come as long as the economic case stacks up, and the taxpayer isn't left with a huge bill. The Liberal Democrats say they won't build new nuclear power stations because they're uneconomic and they will add to our stockpile of waste.
Regional Development Agencies: The Lib Dems say agencies like One North East could stay if there was local demand for them, but only if they became more accountable. Labour would keep One North East. The Conservatives would look to replace them with local arrangements in Teesside, Tyneside and Wearside, but might listen if a region did want to keep a single agency.
That's my summary. Let me know what you made of what the three parties had to say.
I'm Richard Moss, the 91Èȱ¬'s Political Editor for the North East and Cumbria. Welcome to my irreverent - but hopefully insightful - northern take on reporting politics for Look North and the Politics Show.
Comments
or to comment.