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| Lib Dems: Day Four at-a-glance | Lib Dems: Day Four at-a-glance |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| By Justin Parkinson and Gavin Stamp BBC News political reporters, in Bournemouth | By Justin Parkinson and Gavin Stamp BBC News political reporters, in Bournemouth |
| THE BIG ISSUE | THE BIG ISSUE |
| First tax, now crime. Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne continued the leadership's effort to make Lib Dem policies appear distinctive from those of their rivals. In his speech, he said the party would focus efforts on improving policing and crime clean-up rates, instead of simply increasing the number of prison places. Continuing the anti-Westminster, anti-Whitehall theme of the conference, he accused the government of "legislative diarrhoea" and called for more "hard thinking" on law and order. Penalties were already "tough enough", and in future the emphasis should be "Catch criminals to cut crime", Mr Huhne added. The Tories and Labour are likely to seize upon the comments on punishment, using them to accuse the Lib Dems of being weak. Mr Huhne faces a difficult task in conveying to the public the thoughts behind his crime policies. ROUND-UP | First tax, now crime. Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne continued the leadership's effort to make Lib Dem policies appear distinctive from those of their rivals. In his speech, he said the party would focus efforts on improving policing and crime clean-up rates, instead of simply increasing the number of prison places. Continuing the anti-Westminster, anti-Whitehall theme of the conference, he accused the government of "legislative diarrhoea" and called for more "hard thinking" on law and order. Penalties were already "tough enough", and in future the emphasis should be "Catch criminals to cut crime", Mr Huhne added. The Tories and Labour are likely to seize upon the comments on punishment, using them to accuse the Lib Dems of being weak. Mr Huhne faces a difficult task in conveying to the public the thoughts behind his crime policies. ROUND-UP |
| Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said crime clean-up rates had to improve and promised more police under a Lib Dem government.Huhne calls for better policing | Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said crime clean-up rates had to improve and promised more police under a Lib Dem government.Huhne calls for better policing |
| The party called for local authorities and other social landlords to have more powers to borrow against their assets, so that they can buy up more repossessed or empty homes, easing the housing crisis.Councils 'need housing powers' | The party called for local authorities and other social landlords to have more powers to borrow against their assets, so that they can buy up more repossessed or empty homes, easing the housing crisis.Councils 'need housing powers' |
| IT'S ONLY A FEW ZEROS | IT'S ONLY A FEW ZEROS |
| Confusion reigns supreme over Nick Clegg's interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. When asked how much the Lib Dems were offering in tax cuts, the leader was heard to say "millions". Presenter Ed Stourton corrected him. Surely he meant "billions". But party policy chief Danny Alexander told a press briefing that this intervention had been unnecessary. "Nick didn't make a slip-up on Today," he said. Mr Clegg had said "billions", but Mr Stourton had "misheard him". There you have it. | Confusion reigns supreme over Nick Clegg's interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. When asked how much the Lib Dems were offering in tax cuts, the leader was heard to say "millions". Presenter Ed Stourton corrected him. Surely he meant "billions". But party policy chief Danny Alexander told a press briefing that this intervention had been unnecessary. "Nick didn't make a slip-up on Today," he said. Mr Clegg had said "billions", but Mr Stourton had "misheard him". There you have it. |
| NATO CONCERNS | NATO CONCERNS |
| Rushing Nato membership for Georgia and Ukraine would be "madness", foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey has said. He added that continued diplomacy would be the best approach to take to the crisis in the Caucasus. But he said Nato membership for the two countries could not be ruled out, providing they meet the "normal criteria", because to say otherwise would effectively be to give Russia a veto over who was allowed to join. | Rushing Nato membership for Georgia and Ukraine would be "madness", foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey has said. He added that continued diplomacy would be the best approach to take to the crisis in the Caucasus. But he said Nato membership for the two countries could not be ruled out, providing they meet the "normal criteria", because to say otherwise would effectively be to give Russia a veto over who was allowed to join. |
| NO, DR BEECHING | NO, DR BEECHING |
| Transport spokesman Norman Baker has promised to reverse the work of Dr Beeching, the enemy of railway enthusiasts everywhere. He said train companies should be offered 30-year contracts, to ensure they invest more money in the network, re-opening some of the branch lines done away with by the doctor in the 1960s. Mr Baker also reiterated the party's commitment to extending the high-speed rail network, currently running to the Continent from London St Pancras. It should be connected to northern and England, taking in Heathrow Airport along the way, he argued. | Transport spokesman Norman Baker has promised to reverse the work of Dr Beeching, the enemy of railway enthusiasts everywhere. He said train companies should be offered 30-year contracts, to ensure they invest more money in the network, re-opening some of the branch lines done away with by the doctor in the 1960s. Mr Baker also reiterated the party's commitment to extending the high-speed rail network, currently running to the Continent from London St Pancras. It should be connected to northern and England, taking in Heathrow Airport along the way, he argued. |
| SEASIDE RUMBLE | SEASIDE RUMBLE |
| Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has apologised after a scuffle in which the Lib Dems' former communications chief Mark Littlewood was apparently knocked to the ground. He reportedly became incensed at a report by Mr Littlewood's Liberal Vision, suggesting that two-thirds of Lib Dem MPs faced the possibility of losing their seats at the next general election. No charges are to be brought, the party said. | Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has apologised after a scuffle in which the Lib Dems' former communications chief Mark Littlewood was apparently knocked to the ground. He reportedly became incensed at a report by Mr Littlewood's Liberal Vision, suggesting that two-thirds of Lib Dem MPs faced the possibility of losing their seats at the next general election. No charges are to be brought, the party said. |
| WHO WILL PICK OPIK? | WHO WILL PICK OPIK? |
| Lembit Opik's campaign to replace Simon Hughes as party president when he steps down later this year is gathering pace - or is it? Asked at a press briefing whether he had seen any of the "Ipik Opik" badges promoting the eccentric Montgomeryshire MP's bid, Lib Dem policy chief Danny Alexander said he had noticed "one or two". Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne seemed bemused. "Have you?" he asked, with a mixture of laughter and horror spreading across his face. | Lembit Opik's campaign to replace Simon Hughes as party president when he steps down later this year is gathering pace - or is it? Asked at a press briefing whether he had seen any of the "Ipik Opik" badges promoting the eccentric Montgomeryshire MP's bid, Lib Dem policy chief Danny Alexander said he had noticed "one or two". Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne seemed bemused. "Have you?" he asked, with a mixture of laughter and horror spreading across his face. |
| LOOK AHEAD | |
| On Wednesday Nick Clegg rounds off his first autumn conference as leader, with his keynote speech. Before that, there are debates on mental health care and the use of personal data. | |
| Day Three at-a-glance | Day Three at-a-glance |
| Day Two at-a-glance | Day Two at-a-glance |
| Day One at-a-glance | Day One at-a-glance |