Free museum entry and an end to the Severn Bridge tolls: today’s manifesto tasters

Another two proposals from the Liberal Democrat pre-manifesto process are being trailed in the media today:

The Liberal Democrats will pledge in their general election manifesto to guarantee continuing free access to selected national museums and galleries while offering greater autonomy to the institutions.

Danny Alexander, the Lib Dem chief secretary to the treasury, will say that guaranteeing free access will ensure that people from all backgrounds can continue to enjoy the “great institutions”. [The Guardian]

I hope all the museums can count to four.

Tolls on the Severn Bridge would be scrapped if the Liberal Democrats are in government after next year’s general election, the party said.

More than 80,000 vehicles use the two crossings each day, with the cost ranging from £6.40 for cars to £19.20 for lorries.

The money is collected by a private company and the funds are used to pay the construction costs of the bridges.

But the party says the change would be a “huge boost” for the Welsh economy. [BBC]

The pre-manifesto document will get debated at the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow this October.