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Aim for power, says Lib Dem chief Aim for power, says Lib Dem chief
(10 minutes later)
Sir Menzies Campbell is using his first major conference speech as Lib Dem leader to say the party must show it is a serious prospect for government.Sir Menzies Campbell is using his first major conference speech as Lib Dem leader to say the party must show it is a serious prospect for government.
Unlike Labour and the Tories, the Lib Dems are "a party of substance, not of spin", he is telling delegates.Unlike Labour and the Tories, the Lib Dems are "a party of substance, not of spin", he is telling delegates.
"My objective is nothing less than to complete the transformation of the Lib Dems from a party of opposition into a party of government," he says. "My objective is nothing less than to complete the transformation of the Lib Dems from a party of opposition into a party of government," he will say.
He does not mention of ex-leader Charles Kennedy and his resignation. Sir Menzies won a standing ovation as he arrived for the speech in Brighton.
Instead, Sir Menzies is saying the party must go forward showing it is both responsible and radical. He is not expected to mention ex-leader Charles Kennedy and his turbulent resignation earlier this year.
Instead, Sir Menzies will say the party must go forward showing it is both responsible and radical.
Gains in next year's elections could make Lib Dem Nicol Stephen Scotland's first minister, he predicted and the party's ambition must not end there.Gains in next year's elections could make Lib Dem Nicol Stephen Scotland's first minister, he predicted and the party's ambition must not end there.
"I have had three great opportunities in my life: in sport, in the law, and in politics," he is saying. "I have had three great opportunities in my life: in sport, in the law, and in politics," he will say.
"And now I have been given one more: the opportunity to lead our party from opposition towards government.""And now I have been given one more: the opportunity to lead our party from opposition towards government."
Tax messageTax message
He is pointing to his victory in the crunch vote over his tax proposals this week. In his speech he points to his victory in the crunch vote over his tax proposals this week.
The Lib Dems can now say exactly what they would do on tax - cutting income tax and using higher taxes on gas-guzzling cars and aviation to pay for it, he says. The Lib Dems can now say exactly what they would do on tax - cutting income tax and using higher taxes on gas-guzzling cars and aviation to pay for it, he will say.
The Conservatives say the plans will hit the pensions of middle earners.The Conservatives say the plans will hit the pensions of middle earners.
But Sir Menzies argues: "We will reward ambition and aspiration - not penalise effort." But Sir Menzies will argue: "We will reward ambition and aspiration - not penalise effort."
The "very wealthy" would lose generous pension tax subsidies and tax breaks on capital gains would be removed.The "very wealthy" would lose generous pension tax subsidies and tax breaks on capital gains would be removed.
The Lib Dem leader is attacking Labour for failing to tackle the gap between rich and poor, while there had been little improvement in public services in nine years of Tony Blair's government. The Lib Dem leader will attack Labour for failing to tackle the gap between rich and poor, while there had been little improvement in public services in nine years of Tony Blair's government.
He also accuses ministers of putting civil liberties under threat and is promising to fight any new attempts to allow terrorism suspects to be held for up to 90 days without trial. In his speech he also accuses ministers of putting civil liberties under threat and is promising to fight any new attempts to allow terrorism suspects to be held for up to 90 days without trial.
"Terrorism thrives where civil liberties are denied," he says. "Terrorism thrives where civil liberties are denied," he is expected to say.
'Losing security''Losing security'
Sir Menzies is also launching a broadside on Labour's foreign policy, saying Britain's reputation on had been tarnished by a prime minister who puts "conviction over judgement". Sir Menzies also launches a broadside on Labour's foreign policy, saying Britain's reputation on had been tarnished by a prime minister who puts "conviction over judgement".
He is paying tribute to British troops who have died in action but argues that Iraq is approaching a civil war and Guantanamo Bay stood as an "affront to justice". He will pay tribute to British troops who have died in action but argue that Iraq is approaching a civil war and Guantanamo Bay stood as an "affront to justice".
"Security is not being gained, it is being lost," he says. "Security is not being gained, it is being lost," he will say.
"Terrorism is not being defeated, it is being invigorated. Freedom is not being spread, it is being undermined.""Terrorism is not being defeated, it is being invigorated. Freedom is not being spread, it is being undermined."
Apology demandsApology demands
Sir Menzies also turns his fire on the Conservatives, accusing David Cameron of being "a substance free zone". Sir Menzies also turns his fire on the Conservatives, accusing David Cameron of being "a substance free zone". "Their idea of political principle is to say, tell us what you don't like and we'll abandon it," he will say.
"Their idea of political principle is to say, tell us what you don't like and we'll abandon it," he says.
He is demanding Mr Cameron apologise for supporting the Iraq war and writing "one of the most reactionary, unpleasant, right-wing manifestos of modern times" at the last election.He is demanding Mr Cameron apologise for supporting the Iraq war and writing "one of the most reactionary, unpleasant, right-wing manifestos of modern times" at the last election.
The Lib Dems are trying to sell Sir Menzies' personal story and the leader began his speech only after a slideshow about his personal life.The Lib Dems are trying to sell Sir Menzies' personal story and the leader began his speech only after a slideshow about his personal life.
Set to pumping music, it screened photos of him as an Olympic athlete in the 1960s, a successful barrister, husband and energetic campaigner.Set to pumping music, it screened photos of him as an Olympic athlete in the 1960s, a successful barrister, husband and energetic campaigner.
Sir Menzies is using his speech to give more details of his background, telling how he had grown up in a Glasgow tenement with his parents working hard to give him they chances they never had.Sir Menzies is using his speech to give more details of his background, telling how he had grown up in a Glasgow tenement with his parents working hard to give him they chances they never had.
"But opportunity should not be an accident of birth," he says. "It must be open to everyone in Britain." "But opportunity should not be an accident of birth," he will say: "It must be open to everyone in Britain."