This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8162745.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Key Lib Dem pledges could be axed Key Lib Dem pledges could be axed
(about 2 hours later)
Nick Clegg is ready to ditch key Lib Dem policies such as free university tuition in an attempt to be more honest with voters about spending cuts.Nick Clegg is ready to ditch key Lib Dem policies such as free university tuition in an attempt to be more honest with voters about spending cuts.
The Lib Dem leader warned party members its next manifesto could not be a "shopping list" of unfunded pledges.The Lib Dem leader warned party members its next manifesto could not be a "shopping list" of unfunded pledges.
He refused to say which policies could be cut to tackle the UK's budget deficit, as it was up to the party. He refused to say which policies could be axed to tackle the budget deficit, as it was down to the party.
But free personal care for the elderly and a higher basic pension are thought to be among those under scrutiny. But tuition fees, free personal care and a higher basic pension are thought to be among those under scrutiny.
Mr Clegg was speaking at the launch of a new policy document, A Fresh Start for Britain, which will be put to party members at the Lib Dem autumn conference in Bournemouth before details are decided.Mr Clegg was speaking at the launch of a new policy document, A Fresh Start for Britain, which will be put to party members at the Lib Dem autumn conference in Bournemouth before details are decided.
He said he was not seeking a showdown with party members over cuts to longstanding Lib Dem pledges which have been popular with the party's rank and file.He said he was not seeking a showdown with party members over cuts to longstanding Lib Dem pledges which have been popular with the party's rank and file.
Lib Dem MP Evan Harris contacted BBC Radio 4's PM to say he would be "astonished" if the party conference agreed to scrap the party's policy on university tuition fees, which it had only recently adopted.
But Mr Clegg said Dr Harris was "getting ahead of the debate".
He told PM: "What we will be debating in the conference is not a specific list of policies. It is an approach about how we choose between different policies."
He said voters would be told before the next election which policies the party wanted to axe.
Red tapeRed tape
But he did want them to sign up to the principle that there would not be an overall increase in public spending - and that any new spending pledges would have to be paid for with cuts elsewhere. But in the first instance, Mr Clegg has said he wants his party to sign up to the principle that there would not be an overall increase in public spending - and that any new spending pledges would have to be paid for with cuts elsewhere.
It was for the party as a whole to accept the "tool-kit" of ideas outlined in A Fresh Start for Britain before key decisions could be made, he added.It was for the party as a whole to accept the "tool-kit" of ideas outlined in A Fresh Start for Britain before key decisions could be made, he added.
What people want is to be treated like grown-ups Nick CleggWhat people want is to be treated like grown-ups Nick Clegg
He said: "To my knowledge, we're the only party saying there are difficult choices. We're not going to be able to do everything we aspired to do before. We have to drop some things."He said: "To my knowledge, we're the only party saying there are difficult choices. We're not going to be able to do everything we aspired to do before. We have to drop some things."
The document is short on specifics but it does identify some potential long term savings.The document is short on specifics but it does identify some potential long term savings.
These include downgrading the replacement for Trident, cutting future public sector pensions, scrapping the government's "arbitrary" target of 50% of young people going to university, simplifying tax credits and cutting red tape.These include downgrading the replacement for Trident, cutting future public sector pensions, scrapping the government's "arbitrary" target of 50% of young people going to university, simplifying tax credits and cutting red tape.
It also singles out children and young people as the party's top priority and reaffirms its commitment to "clean-up" politics and bring in tax cuts for low and middle income workers paid for by green taxes on industry and higher taxes for "the rich".It also singles out children and young people as the party's top priority and reaffirms its commitment to "clean-up" politics and bring in tax cuts for low and middle income workers paid for by green taxes on industry and higher taxes for "the rich".
Mr Clegg said more details would be revealed as the state of the public finances became clearer.Mr Clegg said more details would be revealed as the state of the public finances became clearer.
'Era of plenty''Era of plenty'
He said the party had to be "disciplined and honest" about what would be in its general election manifesto.He said the party had to be "disciplined and honest" about what would be in its general election manifesto.
He said: "What people want is to be treated like grown-ups - I don't think people want a standard line from politicians that somehow the world hasn't changed - it's changed a lot. Everyone knows that.He said: "What people want is to be treated like grown-ups - I don't think people want a standard line from politicians that somehow the world hasn't changed - it's changed a lot. Everyone knows that.
"It seems to me that what we need to say to people is we're going to have to take difficult decisions."It seems to me that what we need to say to people is we're going to have to take difficult decisions.
"We're not going to pretend we can do everything we did in the era of plenty because it's just not plausible any more."We're not going to pretend we can do everything we did in the era of plenty because it's just not plausible any more.
"But I think it's deeply unfair on the next generation to hand on to them the sins ... of this generation.""But I think it's deeply unfair on the next generation to hand on to them the sins ... of this generation."