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Jo Swinson promises fight to halt Brexit as she launches Liberal Democrats' manifesto

Jo Swinson loses High Court decision: Ben Stamsall AFP
Jo Swinson loses High Court decision: Ben Stamsall AFP

Jo Swinson launched the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto today pledging an “unashamed” fight to stop Brexit and warning that time was running out to halt climate change.

Seeking to break through in an election increasingly dominated by Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn, she said the country was potentially facing “seismic change”.

With her party targeting seats in the capital, she told the Standard: “Londoners are open-minded, open-hearted, and proud Europeans. Their values are our values.”

Having been sidelined from the TV debate between the Prime Minister and Labour leader last night, she also claimed: “I know that I could do a better job as Prime Minister than either of them.”

Key elements of the manifesto include:

  • A second referendum on Brexit, or revoking it if they won a Commons majority.

  • Government loans for first-time renters under 30 for a deposit, longer tenancies of at least three years, licensing for landlords and a ban on “no fault” evictions.

  • Abolishing the separate Capital Gains Tax-free allowance and instead taxing capital gains and salaries through a single allowance.

  • Putting 1p on income tax to raise £7 billion a year in extra revenue for the NHS and social care.

  • Borrowing more to invest £130 billion in transport, energy systems, homes and other infrastructure.

  • Increasing corporation tax to 20 per cent.

  • Recruiting 20,000 more teachers as part of an extra £10 billion a year for schools, free childcare from nine months and £10,000 for every adult to spend on skills and training.

  • Tackling global warming by generating 80 per cent of the UK’s electricity from renewables by 2030, with solar panels on all new homes. By the same year every new car and small van sold must be electric.

“Our politics is in a state of flux, and this general election could lead to seismic change out of which a new and different politics can emerge,” said Ms Swinson. “For me, the choice is clear. To stop Brexit and build that brighter future.”

The manifesto added: “We are unashamedly fighting to stay in the European Union.” On the threat from global warming, it said: “We are the last generation that can stop irreversible climate change.”

The Lib Dems would also divert people arrested for possession of drugs for “personal use” into treatment and impose civil penalties rather than imprisonment.

They outlined their plan to introduce a legal, regulated market for cannabis, stating that they would introduce limits on potency levels and permit cannabis to be sold through licensed outlets to adults.