Jo Swinson apologises for Lib Dem support of bedroom tax under coalition government: 'We should have stopped it'

Ellena Cruse4 December 2019
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The leader of the Liberal Democrats has apologised for backing the so-called bedroom tax under the Conservative coalition government.

In an interview with BBC's Andrew Neil on Wednesday, Jo Swinson said her party had got it wrong and she was "sorry".

In the interview, due to air on BBC at 7.30pm, she added that the Lib Dems were now committed to spending more on welfare and childcare.

She added that, although cuts were necessary in 2010, austerity has gone too far.

Jo Swinson said she is sorry and it was wrong to vote in favour of the bedroom tax
BBC

In repose to Mr Neil asking "Who has voted nine times to introduce bedroom tax?", Ms Swinson said: "The Liberal Democrats in government, including myself.

"Which I have previously said and I am happy to say again was wrong and I am sorry about that and it was one of the things we did get wrong."

She added: "It was not the right policy and we should have stopped it."

Ms Swinson served as a junior business minister in the Lib Dem/Conservative coalition between 2012 and 2015.

Andrew Neil asks Ms Swinson some tough questions
BBC

The Lib Dem leader said the party had "won many battles" while in government with the Conservatives, including taking many of the lowest-paid out of income tax.

However, she admitted that public services had taken too much of the brunt of the Government's aim to cut the deficit in the public finances.

She said: "I am not going to say in a financial crisis that it was going to be possible with the deficit at the level it was in 2010 not to make any cuts at all.

"Some cuts were necessary but the shape of those cuts, the balance between cuts and tax rises I don't think was the right balance."

Co-leader of the Green Party Sian Berry and Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson during the ITV Election Debate on December 01, 2019 in Salford, England
ITV via Getty Images

Ms Swinson insisted that neither Jeremy Corbyn nor Boris Johnson was fit to be prime minister, but the Lib Dems would support a push for a so-called “people’s vote” on EU membership in a hung Parliament.

Asked if the Lib Dems would prop up a Corbyn-led government for six months in order to allow time for a new Brexit referendum, Ms Swinson said: Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson, neither of them are fit to be prime minister.

“I will vote for legislation to pass a people’s vote, of course I will, and I would have done that under the previous Conservative government, just as I would do it under any other government.

“I am not going to put Jeremy Corbyn into Number 10, but if a government of any colour puts down a Bill in Parliament to have a people’s vote, then we will support having a people’s vote to put a specific Brexit deal to the people with the option of remaining in the EU.”

Ms Swinson added: “Will I vote for legislation on a people’s vote? Yes.

“If Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn don’t win a majority at this election then there is no guarantee that they are still going to be the ones that are leading their parties a week afterwards.

“So, Liberal Democrats will work to stop Brexit. We will support legislation that puts in place a people’s vote and we will work across parties.”

Ms Swinson said that no-one knows Mr Corbyn’s stance on Brexit, stating: “None of us know what Mr Corbyn is really is proposing because he is offering everybody a free pony, frankly.”

Questioned on why voters seemed to like her less the more they got to know her, Ms Swinson said: “I don’t know the answer to that question.

“I have seen some polls that say something slightly differently to that. At the end of the day, I am going to stand for what I believe in. And there will be people who dislike that.”

The 30-minute interview will be broadcast on BBC One 7.30pm.

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