What could we expect from a Conservative government?
As rumours continue to circulate around Westminster that Gordon Brown is set to announce a snap election in March, thoughts are now moving forward to next year and the potential for a Conservative government. What can we expect from the new Conservative party? Will it be any different from the Labour Party?
The truth is that whichever party wins the next election, or gains minority control of the Houses of Parliament, they will certainly have a massive task on their hands. The UK economy is still struggling to pull free of recession, national debt has never been higher, inflation is starting to rear its ugly head again and unemployment is still an enormous issue. However, it is the ballooning budget deficit which needs to be addressed in the short term, something which will inevitably lead to an increase in taxes, whichever party wins the next general election.
In reality, the short to medium term direction of UK taxes and UK public sector investment is already mapped out, whichever political party forms the next government, and many believe winning the next election could actually be something of a "poisoned chalice". There will obviously be differences "on the surface" between Labour and Conservative policies but under the surface the need to increase taxes and reduce public sector investment is growing stronger by the day.
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