Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called for the reform of inheritance tax. He explained that the current system “clobbers” people with valuable homes and stated that he would like to see a reform that made it fairer by ensuring that the better-off pay more. Davey argued that those who aren’t inheriting huge amounts, and whose money comes primarily from property, would see lower inheritance tax. He suggested that this could be paid for by ensuring that the better-off pay more. Davey also called for measures to be put in place that would prevent people who are really wealthy or who have benefited from vast inheritances from using “clever” accountants to “hide the money”.
During the interview with the BBC’s political editor, Chris Mason, Davey also spoke about the need for more investment in the NHS. He agreed with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s view that the NHS is currently “broken”. However, Davey argued that more money needs to go into the health service alongside reforms, with a renewed focus on social care. The Lib Dems are using their autumn party conference to urge the Labour government to invest more in the NHS in the upcoming budget. The party has suggested that the health service needs £3.7bn extra in day-to-day spending, and a further £1.1bn for investment.
Davey’s interview with Mason followed a report by Lord Darzi which blamed the coalition government for a “disastrous” reorganisation of the NHS in England. However, Davey argued that the NHS would have been worse than it currently is without the action the Lib Dems had taken in government. He claimed that his party had fought the Conservatives to make sure there was more money going in and had prevented parts of the reorganisation.
The Lib Dems had their best-ever general election result in July, going from 15 MPs to 72. However, the Labour Party’s huge Commons majority of 167 has led to questions about the influence the Lib Dems will have. Davey insisted that his party would be a better opposition to the government than the Conservatives because they would be more “constructive”.
Finally, Davey was asked about the row over Sir Keir failing to declare clothes bought for his wife Victoria by a Labour donor. He emphasised the need for transparency and stated that we need to know where any MP transgresses the rules. He recalled that he paid for the vast majority of his own clothes but explained that a few years ago, he declared a donation when someone was kind enough to pay for a suit for him
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