Forward of his speech on the Lib Dem Convention, Cathy Newman speaks to the chief of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, about how they’ll work with the federal government on points just like the NHS.
Cathy Newman: Sir Ed Davey, you’ve talked about preventing to repair the NHS, so can I take it from that, that in extremis you’re ready to vote towards the finances if the federal government doesn’t put more cash into the NHS urgently?
Ed Davey: Sure
Cathy Newman: And that’s a no brainer?
Ed Davey: Yeah. I imply we fought the overall election on NHS and care. It was our high precedence. It was our high spending proposal. We had an inexpensive, costed finances for investing in major care, in social care, in repairing our crumbling hospital buildings. And we’re calling on the federal government to make the finances on October the thirtieth, a finances for NHS and care.
Cathy Newman: And better taxes to pay for that. You’re up entrance about that?
Ed Davey: Yeah, we’ve stated that they need to reverse the tax cuts the Conservatives gave to the large banks. We’ve additionally talked about capital beneficial properties tax reform, which is paid by the wealthiest and the billionaires. So we stated within the basic election, I’m repeating that, frankly, there have been methods of elevating the cash so you can get that funding in our NHS and care.
Cathy Newman: You’ll work with Labour. You’ll sit down and discuss to them as quickly because the convention season is over about easy methods to repair social care?
Ed Davey: Effectively, I hope they’re ready to work with the opposition events. I imply, our model as to be a a lot better opposition to the Conservatives, is to be constructive and ready to work cross-party. Nevertheless, relating to issues like correctly investing within the NHS, we’re listening to from the federal government that they need to do reform earlier than they make investments. The Democrats need to make investments and reform.
Cathy Newman: So is it the federal government that’s your fundamental goal or is it the opposition? Since you’ve talked about ending the job, defeating the Conservatives. Are the Tories the larger goal for you, actually?
Ed Davey: The Conservatives don’t share our values. Certainly, more and more, what’s fairly dramatic in our politics is, I feel lifelong Conservative voters have drifted from the Conservatives as a result of they now not share the values of these individuals. You realize, issues just like the rule of regulation, regulation and order, compassionate politics, decency in politics. The Conservatives have moved away and other people have seemed to us in lots of the seats we’ve received, in seats we might win sooner or later, as the actual house owners of these values – that almost all adhere to them.
Cathy Newman: The place you set out your insurance policies for the time being, they’re to the left of Labour. So for instance, on immigration, you speak about wanting new protected routes for asylum seekers. You need more cash for the NHS and better taxes to pay for it. You oppose means-testing the winter gasoline allowance. You need to scrap the 2 youngster profit restrict, I imply, what number of Tory voters are going to be attracted by these sorts of insurance policies?
Ed Davey: Large numbers. I disagree along with your characterisation of this being left and proper. Take a look at the NHS and care. I don’t assume that’s a left-right difficulty, truly. After we discuss to lifelong Conservative voters, they agree with us on the NHS.
Cathy Newman: Wanting increased taxes? Wanting capital beneficial properties taxes increased?
Ed Davey: I feel the overwhelming majority of Conservative voters could be prepared to pay that value.
Cathy Newman: Lots of conservatives in southern England, the place you received seats, would like to rejoin the EU. You talked about it as a form of footnote in your manifesto. When are you going to be extra assured – use that incredible victory you’ve been speaking about as a launchpad to say, sure, let’s rejoin the EU?
Ed Davey: Effectively, I’m glad you raised Europe as a result of it’s a difficulty that we’re enthusiastic about as a result of, as you understand, we’re passionately pro-European.
Cathy Newman: You’ve acquired a humorous approach of exhibiting it, although.
Ed Davey: Effectively let me present you slightly bit extra now. To start with, it’s good that the brand new authorities is ready to speak to our European colleagues and attempt to rebuild that relationship. That’s an enormous enchancment on the Conservatives. I additionally assume we have to say loud and clear that our goal is to rejoin the one market.
Cathy Newman: However I’m not listening to you say you need to rejoin the EU. Sure, within the distant future someday. However you passionately imagine within the UK being within the EU? I’m not listening to that.
Ed Davey: Effectively, what I’m saying is we’re passionately pro-European, and the way in which to try this, in case you’re a accountable politician, is to rebuild that belief.
Cathy Newman: I’m positively not listening to how good it’s. If the UK was to rejoin the EU.
Ed Davey: Cathy you understand that we opposed the Brexit deal.
Cathy Newman: Yeah however you’ll be able to’t shout about that since you’re apprehensive about these Tory voters you’re attempting to attraction to, who won’t need to rejoin the EU.
Ed Davey: Isn’t that an attention-grabbing factor? I’ve met a lot of Conservative voters who truly assume Brexit hasn’t labored very nicely. I’ve met numerous Conservative voters who didn’t vote for Brexit.
Cathy Newman: So that you assume it’s a vote winner, doubtlessly, rejoining the EU?
Ed Davey: Effectively, being pro-European and exhibiting a accountable strategy to mend our relationship with Europe is, I feel, a vote winner.
Cathy Newman: You arrived right here on a jet ski. I imply, does your coronary heart ever sink when your Comms guys say you’ve acquired to get into one other wetsuit?
Ed Davey: Oh no!
Cathy Newman: You’re keen on a wetsuit?
Ed Davey: I say, look, is it a day for a dry swimsuit or a wetsuit?
Cathy Newman: What’s the subsequent stunt then? Present a little bit of leg on the subsequent stunt?
Ed Davey: Effectively, what I’ll say is within the basic election, one or two stunt concepts had been rejected. One was rejected as a result of, you understand, in case you’re being interviewed underwater, the microphones don’t work.
Cathy Newman: So it was a scuba diving stunt that was rejected?
Ed Davey: Effectively, you understand, I feel a few of our opponents needed me to swim with sharks and we weren’t going to try this.
