THE LEFT NEEDS A PARTY TOO:

Sir Menzies insists tax revolt is 'no High Noon' for leadership (GERRI PEEV, 9/18/06, The Scotsman)

Grassroots members are threatening to scupper Sir Menzies's plans to drop the party's flagship policy of a 50p top rate of income tax. They will also challenge his pledge to keep the tax haul at the same level as the current government, rather than redistributing the tax burden to raise the overall take.

Another major outcry at this week's conference in Brighton is likely to be provoked by proposals to ditch the policy of championing a local income tax. Instead, senior party figures have admitted they are considering a 1 per cent levy on property values.

The property tax would "damp down" house prices, the Lib Dems said in their policy document. The proposal is only under consideration and is not a manifesto commitment, but the fact that senior party figures are considering such a move will alarm traditionalists.

If Gordon Brown does hang on, the Lib Dems can be the Left alternative to the two Third Way major parties.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 18, 2006 8:12 AM