Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg used his speech to the Party's Spring conference in NewcastleGateshead to call for the forthcoming budget to be a "budget for fairness" and pledged that it would help working familes.

The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that by 2015 Britain would have seen an end to control orders, the first gay marriages and the first elections to the House of Lords.

Fairer taxes, promoting green jobs, protecting your civil liberties - these are just some of the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government.

We're building a freer, greener and more liberal country - and stopping some of the worst excesses of the Conservatives. Find out more in this infographic.

Milton Keynes Council have published an internal report and concluded that it 'does not have sufficient evidence... that its bridge structures are safe'.

Leader of the opposition, Liberal Democrat Sam Crooks (Middleton Ward) has gone further by saying that the authority has been gambling with people's lives.

FAT cat bosses earning more than £100,000 a year at Milton Keynes Council could be forced to quit their jobs in order to save front line services.

Currently there are 81 senior managers, directors and assistant heads all on whopping Grade 12 salaries at the civic offices.

Opposition Liberal Democrats are demanding at least 20 of these posts be scrapped and the resulting £1.4 million saving be ploughed back into helping the community.

A 'Grave mistake' has been made by the Conservatives in Milton Keynes, according to Cllr Andy Maric from Newport Pagnell who is also the Lib Dems Opposition spokesperson for Finance and uncovered the hidden increases.

Lib Dems from Newport Pagnell uncovered hidden charges from the Conservative Council's budget which specifically targets stillborn babies and children under 16yrs who die, they are set to face a 40.63% increase in Burials and Cremation charges which is hidden behind an 'average' of a 10% increase in charges across the board for Burials and Cremations.

"It's an absolute disgrace that the Conservatives not only tried to hide this 40.63% increase in charges for stillborn babies and children who die, but its completely immoral and insensitive to think that they would even propose such a thing, quite frankly it makes me feel sick", said Cllr Andy Maric.

The Conservative Budget which is currently on Milton Keynes Council's website for Consultation does not display the Council's exemptions to the standard 4% increase across the board, 'Annex E', and the only reference to Burials and Cremations in the paper back copies, is a "average of 10%".

Cllrs Douglas McCall and Paul Alexander both agreed and said that "How can the public possibly provide feedback on a public budget when figures are hidden and they try to keep it a secret, surely the Consultation process so far is void?"

Rev Jenny Mills, minister of the United Reformed Chuch, whom is also representing other Churches from Newport Pagnell and agrees with the Lib Dems on this issue said, "No cuts or increases are ever easy or welcomed but it seems particularly harsh to make increases that hit people when they are at their most vulnerable, especially when faced with having to deal with the death of their baby or child. The impact of the increased costs will make money a focus, and an extra burden, when families are grieving and struggling anyway".

A petition has been set up online to try and force the Conservative Cabinet member for Finance to resign and also tell the Public what else they are hiding in their secret budget: www.ipetitions.com/petition/council-secrets/

You can also tell the Council what you think direct by emailing: budget@Milton-Keynes.gov.uk or write to; Budget Consultation, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes, MK9 EJ before 3rd February 2012.