Liberal Democrats launch manifesto
The Liberal Democrats have launched their manifesto for the 2010 General Election.
In order to finance progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, the Liberal Democrats commit to spending 0.7% of national income on aid (enshrined in law), a financial transaction tax, 100% debt cancellation of unpayable debts of the world’s poorest countries and a carbon trading system. They also pledge to ban banks from facilitating the transfer of funds obtained by corruption and to crack down on tax havens.
These funds would be spent on health and education programmes which aim to promote gender equality, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and to restrict the spread of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.
Policies on climate change are built in to every chapter in the manifesto as part of the aim of a zero carbon Britain by 2050 and a 30% CO2 reduction by 2020.
On the European level, the party will push for stricter regulation of financial services and banking, reform of agricultural subsidies and progress on climate change.
Globally the Liberal Democrats promise reform of the World Bank and IMF and support for the establishment of an International Arms Trade Treaty to limit the sale of arms to dangerous regimes.
International Development excerpts from the Liberal Democrat Manifesto
