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Tories do not have to win - Clegg Tories do not have to win - Clegg
(8 minutes later)
Nick Clegg will urge voters not to sleepwalk into a Tory government in a keynote speech to his party conference.Nick Clegg will urge voters not to sleepwalk into a Tory government in a keynote speech to his party conference.
The Lib Dem leader will tell ex-Labour supporters to back his party instead, insisting it is not a "wasted" vote.The Lib Dem leader will tell ex-Labour supporters to back his party instead, insisting it is not a "wasted" vote.
Mr Clegg is facing a revolt from within his party over his repeated insistence on the need for public spending cuts.Mr Clegg is facing a revolt from within his party over his repeated insistence on the need for public spending cuts.
Senior MPs have criticised moves to means-test child tax credits and have accused him of preaching "doom and gloom" with his call for "savage" cuts.Senior MPs have criticised moves to means-test child tax credits and have accused him of preaching "doom and gloom" with his call for "savage" cuts.
Mr Clegg will attempt to reassert his authority - and breathe some fire into the belly of rank-and-file members in Bournemouth - in what will be his final annual conference speech before the next election.Mr Clegg will attempt to reassert his authority - and breathe some fire into the belly of rank-and-file members in Bournemouth - in what will be his final annual conference speech before the next election.
'Fake change''Fake change'
But he will also have a message for voters who do not usually vote Lib Dem or have given up on voting altogether, telling them: "Don't stay at home, don't vote Conservative just because you think it's the only option."But he will also have a message for voters who do not usually vote Lib Dem or have given up on voting altogether, telling them: "Don't stay at home, don't vote Conservative just because you think it's the only option."
I know people want me to use softer language - it won't make the problem go away Nick CleggLib Dem leader Send us your commentsI know people want me to use softer language - it won't make the problem go away Nick CleggLib Dem leader Send us your comments
He will say: "If you supported Labour in 1997 because you wanted fairness, you wanted young people to flourish, you wanted political reform, you wanted the environment protected, or you simply believed in a better future, turn to the Liberal Democrats.He will say: "If you supported Labour in 1997 because you wanted fairness, you wanted young people to flourish, you wanted political reform, you wanted the environment protected, or you simply believed in a better future, turn to the Liberal Democrats.
"I know there are people who agree with a lot of what we've got to say, but who still don't vote Liberal Democrat. You don't think we're contenders. I urge you to think again.""I know there are people who agree with a lot of what we've got to say, but who still don't vote Liberal Democrat. You don't think we're contenders. I urge you to think again."
Mr Clegg will argue that voters have a choice at the next election between the "fake change" of the Tories and "real change" from the Lib Dems.Mr Clegg will argue that voters have a choice at the next election between the "fake change" of the Tories and "real change" from the Lib Dems.
Mr Clegg has faced a battle this week with his own MPs and party members, after saying "savage" spending cuts were needed to tackle Britain's record debts.Mr Clegg has faced a battle this week with his own MPs and party members, after saying "savage" spending cuts were needed to tackle Britain's record debts.
He also ruffled feathers by suggesting a "debate" on whether child benefit might have to be cut for better-off families, although he stressed in a BBC interview that the principle of universal benefits was "important".He also ruffled feathers by suggesting a "debate" on whether child benefit might have to be cut for better-off families, although he stressed in a BBC interview that the principle of universal benefits was "important".
'Doom and gloom''Doom and gloom'
Work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb told delegates: "I think we have over-done the despair."Work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb told delegates: "I think we have over-done the despair."
He added: "Doom and gloom does not inspire and motivate people. People want it straight but they also want hope."He added: "Doom and gloom does not inspire and motivate people. People want it straight but they also want hope."
Mr Clegg hit back by saying: "I know people want me to use softer language. It won't make the problem go away."Mr Clegg hit back by saying: "I know people want me to use softer language. It won't make the problem go away."
The Lib Dem leader won his battle to include a proviso in the party's draft manifesto that some pledges might have to be dropped once full costings have been produced.The Lib Dem leader won his battle to include a proviso in the party's draft manifesto that some pledges might have to be dropped once full costings have been produced.
But the party's Federal Policy Committee, which decides what goes in the final version of the manifesto, has said a "clear majority" of its members did not want to scrap the party's commitment to end tuition fees for undergraduates in England - something Mr Clegg has suggested might be needed.But the party's Federal Policy Committee, which decides what goes in the final version of the manifesto, has said a "clear majority" of its members did not want to scrap the party's commitment to end tuition fees for undergraduates in England - something Mr Clegg has suggested might be needed.
It wouldn't be a Liberal Democrat conference if there weren't one or two people who were concerned about the direction Sir Menzies Campbell, former Lib Dem leader
In a letter to Mr Clegg the committee said: "Our party makes policy in an open and democratic way and... policies cannot be changed merely by assertion to the contrary."In a letter to Mr Clegg the committee said: "Our party makes policy in an open and democratic way and... policies cannot be changed merely by assertion to the contrary."
But former party leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Britain's economic situation had complicated the issue of tuition fees.
"If you find that you have to choose between making a concession which doesn't presently exist or cutting frontline education and health services then that's a very hard choice," he told the BBC.
"That's the kind of argument that we are going to have to have in the country in due course.
"We're having it here in an honest and open fashion."
Treasury spokesman Vince Cable, who will front the party's general election campaign with Mr Clegg, has also faced a backlash from some of the party's senior MPs over his alleged failure to consult them on his "mansion tax" proposals.Treasury spokesman Vince Cable, who will front the party's general election campaign with Mr Clegg, has also faced a backlash from some of the party's senior MPs over his alleged failure to consult them on his "mansion tax" proposals.
Mr Cable was told by one that the policy of taxing the owners of £1m plus homes was "complete codswallop," while another told the BBC it had left the Lib Dem Treasury spokesman "seriously damaged".Mr Cable was told by one that the policy of taxing the owners of £1m plus homes was "complete codswallop," while another told the BBC it had left the Lib Dem Treasury spokesman "seriously damaged".
Sir Menzies added: "It wouldn't be a Liberal Democrat conference if there weren't one or two people who were concerned about the direction."