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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
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| Clegg urges new political system | Clegg urges new political system |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nick Clegg says he will never join a Labour or Tory cabinet - but will push instead for a "new type of government". | Nick Clegg says he will never join a Labour or Tory cabinet - but will push instead for a "new type of government". |
| Lib Dem leaders have traditionally made proportional representation the price of a deal with other parties in the event of a hung parliament. | Lib Dem leaders have traditionally made proportional representation the price of a deal with other parties in the event of a hung parliament. |
| But in his first speech as leader Nick Clegg went further by demanding a shake-up of the whole political system. | But in his first speech as leader Nick Clegg went further by demanding a shake-up of the whole political system. |
| He also flagged up the possibility of the Lib Dems offering tax cuts at the next general election. | He also flagged up the possibility of the Lib Dems offering tax cuts at the next general election. |
| "If we want a better Britain, with opportunity for everyone, we've got to have fair taxes. | "If we want a better Britain, with opportunity for everyone, we've got to have fair taxes. |
| Cutting income tax by 4p in the pound is a great start Nick Clegg | |
| "Cutting income tax by 4p in the pound is a great start. | "Cutting income tax by 4p in the pound is a great start. |
| "But we must never stop thinking about how we make taxes fairer." | "But we must never stop thinking about how we make taxes fairer." |
| The party is considering a tax on the homes of the super rich to pay for cuts lower down the income scale. | The party is considering a tax on the homes of the super rich to pay for cuts lower down the income scale. |
| Mr Clegg received a three-minute standing ovation for his speech at the party's spring conference in Liverpool. | Mr Clegg received a three-minute standing ovation for his speech at the party's spring conference in Liverpool. |
| He spoke for more than 50 minutes without notes, overcoming a few initial signs of nervousness to deliver an impassioned plea for political change. | He spoke for more than 50 minutes without notes, overcoming a few initial signs of nervousness to deliver an impassioned plea for political change. |
| He told delegates electoral reform "wasn't enough" and he wanted to "redesign" Britain's political system for the 21st Century. | He told delegates electoral reform "wasn't enough" and he wanted to "redesign" Britain's political system for the 21st Century. |
| The speech was being sold as an attempt to move on from a damaging row over the EU treaty which saw the resignation last week of three frontbenchers. | The speech was being sold as an attempt to move on from a damaging row over the EU treaty which saw the resignation last week of three frontbenchers. |
| I will never allow the Liberal Democrats to be a mere annexe to another party Nick Clegg class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7286329.stm">Views on Clegg speech | |
| Mr Clegg joked that if the party had wanted to rebel in the past they would have had to "borrow MPs from the other parties". | Mr Clegg joked that if the party had wanted to rebel in the past they would have had to "borrow MPs from the other parties". |
| But he made no further mention of the EU treaty debate, focusing instead on portraying the Lib Dems as an "anti-establishment" force that can smash Britain's two-party system. | But he made no further mention of the EU treaty debate, focusing instead on portraying the Lib Dems as an "anti-establishment" force that can smash Britain's two-party system. |
| He called for a new crackdown on sleaze - with by-elections for MPs who break the rules. | He called for a new crackdown on sleaze - with by-elections for MPs who break the rules. |
| And he vowed to fight for an "end to big money politics" - proposing a £25,000 limit on political donations. | And he vowed to fight for an "end to big money politics" - proposing a £25,000 limit on political donations. |
| He also addressed the question of alliances with other parties head-on, saying he would never join a Conservative or a Labour government. | He also addressed the question of alliances with other parties head-on, saying he would never join a Conservative or a Labour government. |
| "I will never allow the Liberal Democrats to be a mere annexe to another party. | "I will never allow the Liberal Democrats to be a mere annexe to another party. |
| "But am I interested in building a new type of government? Yes. | "But am I interested in building a new type of government? Yes. |
| The future of hundreds of thousands of children sold down the river because the Labour party sold its soul and became the second Conservative party Nick Clegg | The future of hundreds of thousands of children sold down the river because the Labour party sold its soul and became the second Conservative party Nick Clegg |
| "Based on pluralism instead of one party rule? Yes. | "Based on pluralism instead of one party rule? Yes. |
| "A new system, that empowers people not parties? Yes. | "A new system, that empowers people not parties? Yes. |
| "We want a new, more liberal Britain." | "We want a new, more liberal Britain." |
| Aides refused to be drawn on the precise details of the new "pluralistic" government Mr Clegg wanted. | Aides refused to be drawn on the precise details of the new "pluralistic" government Mr Clegg wanted. |
| But they said the party was no longer interested in having a "few cabinet ministers sitting in a Tory or Labour government" - but wanted a constitutional convention to examine all aspects of how Britain is governed. | But they said the party was no longer interested in having a "few cabinet ministers sitting in a Tory or Labour government" - but wanted a constitutional convention to examine all aspects of how Britain is governed. |
| Mr Clegg also focused on education and health in his speech - issues he believes matter more to ordinary voters than Europe. | Mr Clegg also focused on education and health in his speech - issues he believes matter more to ordinary voters than Europe. |
| He also pledged to build a "people's NHS" with treatment within a specified waiting time or guaranteed private care. | He also pledged to build a "people's NHS" with treatment within a specified waiting time or guaranteed private care. |
| In his speech, Mr Clegg mounted a sustained attack on his political opponents. | In his speech, Mr Clegg mounted a sustained attack on his political opponents. |
| Tax cut claim | Tax cut claim |
| HAVE YOUR SAY He should never say that he is not prepared to form a coalition with either the Labour or the Conservatives. Change often is created from within and not necessary whilst in oppositionC, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY He should never say that he is not prepared to form a coalition with either the Labour or the Conservatives. Change often is created from within and not necessary whilst in oppositionC, UKSend us your comments |
| "Alistair Darling stole a policy from the Tories and announced an inheritance tax cut that will help only the richest 6% of people. | "Alistair Darling stole a policy from the Tories and announced an inheritance tax cut that will help only the richest 6% of people. |
| "And do you know where they found the money? | "And do you know where they found the money? |
| "If the reports are true, they scrapped a plan they'd been developing all summer. | "If the reports are true, they scrapped a plan they'd been developing all summer. |
| "A plan to cut child poverty. | "A plan to cut child poverty. |
| "The future of hundreds of thousands of children sold down the river because the Labour party sold its soul and became the second Conservative party. | "The future of hundreds of thousands of children sold down the river because the Labour party sold its soul and became the second Conservative party. |
| "Money taken from the poorest kids and given to the richest adults, no questions asked. | "Money taken from the poorest kids and given to the richest adults, no questions asked. |
| "Gutless, heartless, incompetent." | "Gutless, heartless, incompetent." |
| He also attacked the Conservatives, saying Tory leader David Cameron for peddling "sham politics from a party bereft of belief, that will say anything to get elected". | He also attacked the Conservatives, saying Tory leader David Cameron for peddling "sham politics from a party bereft of belief, that will say anything to get elected". |
| And he accused shadow chancellor George Osborne of "having more positions than the Kama Sutra" on Northern Rock. | And he accused shadow chancellor George Osborne of "having more positions than the Kama Sutra" on Northern Rock. |