Should I vote Liberal Democrat? Where Nick Clegg's party stands on key issues for General Election 2015

An at-a-glance look at the Lib Dems' policies

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg speaks at the launch of his party's manifesto (Getty Images)

ECONOMY

The Liberal Democrats would “cut less than the Tories and borrow less than Labour.” They would balance the books on day-to-day spending on public services by 2017-18 ( like the Tories), but would leave themselves some room to borrow for “productive investment” (like Labour) as long as debt fell as a proportion of national income every year. Public spending would rise in line with the economy once the budget is balanced.

Verdict: Splits the difference between Labour and the Tories, and could be tweaked in any post-election talks.

TAX

Flagship policy to increase the personal allowance would see it rise to at least £12,500 by 2020. Next step could be to raise the employees’ national insurance threshold (currently £8,000) to the same level “as resources allow.”

“Fair” deficit reduction would mean the richest paying their fair share, through reform of Capital Gains Tax and Dividend Tax relief. Higher rate of Corporation Tax for banks.

High value property levy on homes worth more than £2m.

Clampdown on tax avoidance to save £7bn by 2017-18.

Verdict: May get little credit for keynote policy on personal allowance now that it has been stolen by the Tories.

EDUCATION

“A world class education for all” is Nick Clegg’s number one priority, even though the broken 2010 promise to abolish university tuition fees still haunts his party.

The Lib Dems would spend £2.5bn more than Labour and £5bn more than the Tories. They would increase the entire education budget for 2-19 year-olds in real terms.

Free school meals would be extended from 5-7 year-olds to all primary pupils. The core curriculum would be taught in every school and every child would be taught by a qualified teacher.

Verdict: A useful “unique selling point”—but will the voters trust the party on the issue?

NHS

The Lib Dems were the first party to guarantee the extra £8bn sought by Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, and have since been matched by the Tories but not Labour. Half the initial £1bn to provide care in people’s homes and communities, to prevent emergency hospital admissions.

£500m to transform mental health, including waiting time standards to match those for physical health care.

Crackdown on “bad” social care, with better pay and conditions for staff and higher standards for all.

Verdict: A trail-blazer on mental health; extra cash may be eclipsed by Tories’ £8bn pledge

Lib Dems pledge to protect education spending
Liberal Democrat manifesto launch hit by power cut and mic glitches
The Lib Dems would do a coalition deal with Labour or Tories

WELFARE

Would support “limited welfare reductions so we do not destroy the essential safety net that protects us all in times of crisis.” One per cent cap on uprating working age benefits until 2017-18, after which they would rise in line with inflation.

State pension to rise by at least 2.5 per cent a year, but would withdraw winter fuel payments and free TV licences from pensioners paying the 40p higher tax rate.

Reform the “bedroom tax” so that existing social housing tenants would not lose housing benefit unless they turn down a reasonable offer of alternative accommodation.

Verdict: Braver than the Tories and Labour in scrapping pensioners’ perks

ENVIRONMENT

“Five green laws” are promised on the manifesto’s front page, making them a top priority.

A Nature Act would ensure the Government set out a 25-year plan for “recovering nature,” such as reversing the decline of UK species.

A Resource Efficiency and Zero Waste Britain Act. A Green Transport Act. A Zero Carbon Britain Act. A Green Buildings Act.

Green Investment Bank to be expanded. Target set for legally binding decarbonisation target to “green” our electricity.

Verdict: No one doubts their credentials, but Green Party may hoover up some of their votes.

FAMILIES

Extend 15 hours a week of free childcare to all two-year olds, and to the children of working parents from the end of paid parental leave (nine months) to two years. Long term goal of 20 hours a week of free childcare for all 2-4 year-olds.

Shared leave for parents expanded with a “use it or lose it” month for fathers. Paid leave for carers, who would also get a £250 bonus each year.

Verdict: Nick Clegg has good track record, but three main parties are all in similar territory.

HOUSING

A goal to build 300,000 new homes a year, including 10 new garden cities in areas where homes are needed most.

New Rent to Own homes, with monthly payments buying a stake in the property. Help to Rent tenancy deposit loans from the state to help young adults leave their parents’ home and rent a place of their own.

£100 cut in council tax for 10 years for people who insulate their home. Ban on landlords letting out homes that tenants cannot reasonably afford to heat.

Verdict: All good. But successive governments have not ensured enough housebuilding

FREEDOM

The Lib Dems reject the “false choice” between freedom and security.

A Digital Bill of Rights would protect privacy by updating data laws. The party would block any attempt to revive the “snoopers’ charter.”

A second Freedoms Act would protect free speech, tighten the regulation of CCTV, stop heavy-handed policing and ban high-frequency Mosquito devices that can be heard by young people.

Introduce a statutory public interest defence for exceptional cases where journalists may need to break the law to expose corruption or other criminal acts.

Verdict: Makes the Lib Dems distinctive from other parties

IMMIGRATION/EUROPE

“The UK secures many benefits from immigration which boosts our economy and helps staff our public services, especially our NHS. But we need to tackle weaknesses in our immigration system, which threatened to undermine confidence in it.”

Immigration procedures must be robust and fair. Full entry and exit checks should be restored the borders. Working age asylum seekers who have waited for more than six months for a decision should have to seek work like other benefit claimants.

The Lib Dems say that “only as a full member of a reformed EU can we be certain Britain’s businesses will have access to markets in Europe and beyond.”

Verdict: Brave, but politically risky

Unanswered Questions

Could Nick Clegg persuade Lib Dem members to vote to join another coalition?

Would the Lib Dems stick to their five non-negotiable “red lines” in any post-election negotiations with other parties, or would they compromise?

With only £3bn of their 12bn cuts to non-protected government departments identified, where would the rest come from?

How would the Lib Dems fund their plan to boost education spending by £2.5bn, especially if pupil numbers rise sharply?

Would the Lib Dems allow David Cameron to hold an in/out referendum on the EU by 2017 even though they say an arbitrary timetable would be destabilising?

---

The Independent has got together with May2015.com to produce a poll of polls that produces the most up-to-date data in as close to real time as is possible.

Click the buttons below to explore how the main parties' fortunes have changed:

All data, polls and graphics are courtesy of May2015.com. Click through for daily analysis, in-depth features and all the data you need. (All historical data used is provided by UK Polling Report)