Farron: Only we can stand up to Tories
LIBERAL Democrat leader Tim Farron tried to put a positive spin on his party’s results yesterday but in reality they made little impact, in Scotland at least.
The party, still dealing with the post-traumatic stress of their Westminster coalition with the Tories, won just 67 seats north of the Border – down three.
Scottish leader Willie Rennie was nowhere to be seen yesterday as the battle between the SNP and Labour and a resurgent Tory vote stole the spotlight. But Farron insisted the UK results show his party will be the real opposition to the Tories in Westminster and will win “scores” of seats in next month’s general election.
In England, they won 312 seats, down 28, and in Wales they secured 62 seats, down 11.
He said: “These results tell a clear and stark message. Labour has collapsed. They cannot win the general election.
“If you want a strong opposition to this government, we are the party for you.
“A strong opposition can change Britain’s future. A strong opposition to stand up to Theresa May’s divisive Brexit plans that will cost jobs and put up prices.
“A strong opposition to keep us in the single market.
“Labour has failed as an opposition and handed Theresa May a blank cheque to do as she pleases.
“The voters have delivered their verdict on Jeremy Corbyn. We will be the strong opposition that will stand up for you.”
He pledged the Lib Dems would put 1p on income tax to raise an extra £6billion a year for the NHS. A third of it, £2billion, would be dedicated to social care.
The party would prioritise money on mental health and public health.
The Lib Dems are also looking to set up a cross-party convention to agree a long-term funding for social care.
And in the longer term they want to set up a ring-fenced tax dedicated to health and social care spending – with the amount people pay shown on their payslips.
Farron said: “Theresa May doesn’t care about the NHS or social care.
“People are lying on trolleys in hospital corridors and she has done nothing.
“The truth is you can’t have a strong NHS with a hard Brexit.
“The Liberal Democrats will rescue the NHS and social care.”