Council praised over tough budget action

THE country will learn from tough decisions taken by Oldham Council last year in dealing with budget deficits inherited by Labour, Vince Cable has claimed.

In a speech to the Lib-Dem conference in Liverpool, Business Secretary Mr Cable said his party would emerge with credit from the financial crisis after being the first to warn of the impending doom.

He praised Lib-Dem leadership across the country in dealing with the deficit, singling out Oldham Council for the way it dealt with its budget after it took control from Labour in the May, 2009, elections.

Mr Cable told delegates: “I am optimistic about the party’s future because I know there is stamina and determination born of years of real-life experience in local government.

“Those of you who took power from Labour in Newcastle, Hull, Oldham, Bristol, Sheffield and here in Liverpool had to take unpopular decisions to correct budgets which didn’t add up.

“Nationally we have the same problem on a grander scale and want to learn from your experience.”

The Business Secretary said the necessary cuts were bound to hurt.

In his speech on the final day of conference Mr Cable launched an attack on the City “spivs and gamblers” who crippled the British economy and condemned the “outrageous” scale of bank bonuses after the credit crunch.

Mr Cable said it was not much fun being in bed with the Tories but stressed it was necessary that the coalition work together at a time of financial crisis.

But he said the Lib-Dems had to keep hold of their own identity and would fight the next election as an individual political party not a coalition party.