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| Lib Dem plans 'must be credible' | Lib Dem plans 'must be credible' |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The Lib Dems will not make any election promises which are not affordable, the man responsible for putting together their manifesto has said. | The Lib Dems will not make any election promises which are not affordable, the man responsible for putting together their manifesto has said. |
| Lib Dem policies must be "economically credible" as well as bold, MP Danny Alexander told the party's conference. | Lib Dem policies must be "economically credible" as well as bold, MP Danny Alexander told the party's conference. |
| Lib Dem members are set to give the green light to Nick Clegg to campaign on a platform of spending cuts. | |
| But pensions spokesman Steve Webb warned Mr Clegg that the party must offer a more "positive" message. | |
| Mr Clegg's aides say the party has "grown up" by facing the need to cut public spending. | |
| But Mr Webb said talk of cuts could "alienate" voters at the election and warned against introducing means testing on benefits, something the leadership has floated as an idea. | |
| "I think we have overdone the despair," Mr Webb said. "Doom and gloom does not inspire and motivate people. | |
| "People want it straight but they also want hope." | |
| Affordability | Affordability |
| Lib Dem members are debating the party's 'Fresh Start for Britain' document - a blueprint for what will be included in the party's election manifesto. | Lib Dem members are debating the party's 'Fresh Start for Britain' document - a blueprint for what will be included in the party's election manifesto. |
| Mr Alexander, Nick Clegg's chief of staff, said the document set out the party's priorities for building a sustainable economic recovery, making society fairer and cleaning up politics. | Mr Alexander, Nick Clegg's chief of staff, said the document set out the party's priorities for building a sustainable economic recovery, making society fairer and cleaning up politics. |
| We must not make any firm commitment to the British people for the next Parliament unless we are certain it can be paid for Danny Alexander MP | We must not make any firm commitment to the British people for the next Parliament unless we are certain it can be paid for Danny Alexander MP |
| But he warned members that the UK's debt crisis and the need to cut spending meant that not all "long-cherished" principles could be delivered. | But he warned members that the UK's debt crisis and the need to cut spending meant that not all "long-cherished" principles could be delivered. |
| While the manifesto would be "politically bold and socially radical", it also had to be "economically credible", he said. | While the manifesto would be "politically bold and socially radical", it also had to be "economically credible", he said. |
| "We must not make any firm commitment to the British people for the next Parliament unless we are certain it can be paid for," he said. | "We must not make any firm commitment to the British people for the next Parliament unless we are certain it can be paid for," he said. |
| Mr Alexander stressed no final decisions had been taken on key issues like public sector pay and pensions but said the party must be mindful of whether "firmly held" principles such as scrapping tuition fees and free care for the elderly were affordable in the immediate future. | Mr Alexander stressed no final decisions had been taken on key issues like public sector pay and pensions but said the party must be mindful of whether "firmly held" principles such as scrapping tuition fees and free care for the elderly were affordable in the immediate future. |
| The debate comes against a backdrop of anger among grassroots supporters - and senior figures such as Charles Kennedy - over suggestions the tuition fees pledge could be dropped and comments by Nick Clegg that "savage cuts" in spending may be needed. | The debate comes against a backdrop of anger among grassroots supporters - and senior figures such as Charles Kennedy - over suggestions the tuition fees pledge could be dropped and comments by Nick Clegg that "savage cuts" in spending may be needed. |
| Martin Horwood, MP for Cheltenham, said the party should make a "stronger and clearer" commitment to scrapping tuition fees rather than putting it on hold. | Martin Horwood, MP for Cheltenham, said the party should make a "stronger and clearer" commitment to scrapping tuition fees rather than putting it on hold. |
| The party is expected to back the Fresh Start document, which contains broad principles rather than specific pledges. | The party is expected to back the Fresh Start document, which contains broad principles rather than specific pledges. |
| 'Growing-up' | 'Growing-up' |
| Mr Clegg's aides said that by persuading the party to sign up to the principle of spending cuts he will have forced them to "grow up and join the general mood of austerity". | Mr Clegg's aides said that by persuading the party to sign up to the principle of spending cuts he will have forced them to "grow up and join the general mood of austerity". |
| But Evan Harris, of the Federal Policy Committee, said his group would still have the final say over what went in the manifesto and he expected the tuition fees pledge to remain intact. | But Evan Harris, of the Federal Policy Committee, said his group would still have the final say over what went in the manifesto and he expected the tuition fees pledge to remain intact. |
| He told members that while Mr Clegg was a "good" leader, "great" Lib Dem leaders recognised that decisions over policies ultimately rested with the party. | He told members that while Mr Clegg was a "good" leader, "great" Lib Dem leaders recognised that decisions over policies ultimately rested with the party. |
| His remarks come amid growing unrest over the party's new policy to tax homes worth more than £1m, where senior MPs expressing anger over the plan and how it was announced on Monday. | His remarks come amid growing unrest over the party's new policy to tax homes worth more than £1m, where senior MPs expressing anger over the plan and how it was announced on Monday. |
| While the party recognised the need for some spending cuts, Mr Harris said: "We do that with a heavy heart, with care and caution, with no enthusiasm and as a last resort." | While the party recognised the need for some spending cuts, Mr Harris said: "We do that with a heavy heart, with care and caution, with no enthusiasm and as a last resort." |
| The debate comes as a poll or BBC Newsnight suggests a third of voters have never heard of Mr Clegg. | The debate comes as a poll or BBC Newsnight suggests a third of voters have never heard of Mr Clegg. |
| When asked what they thought of Mr Clegg, 36% said they had a favourable opinion, 28% said the opposite and 36% said they did not know who he was. | When asked what they thought of Mr Clegg, 36% said they had a favourable opinion, 28% said the opposite and 36% said they did not know who he was. |
| Mr Clegg also received lukewarm support among those who voted Lib Dem at the 2005 general election. | Mr Clegg also received lukewarm support among those who voted Lib Dem at the 2005 general election. |
| Just one in three believed he would make the best prime minister out of the main party leaders - compared to two-fifths who backed Tory leader David Cameron. | Just one in three believed he would make the best prime minister out of the main party leaders - compared to two-fifths who backed Tory leader David Cameron. |
| Orb interviewed 1,056 adults from across the UK between September 11 and 14. | Orb interviewed 1,056 adults from across the UK between September 11 and 14. |