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| Clegg vows to win 'fight' over House of Lords changes | Clegg vows to win 'fight' over House of Lords changes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nick Clegg has warned opponents of an elected House of Lords the government will win "if it comes to a fight". | Nick Clegg has warned opponents of an elected House of Lords the government will win "if it comes to a fight". |
| He said the current appointed chamber, despite "its veneer of expertise", was "an affront" to democratic principles. | He said the current appointed chamber, despite "its veneer of expertise", was "an affront" to democratic principles. |
| In href="http://www.libdems.org.uk/latest_news_detail.aspx?title=Deputy_Prime_Minister_speech_to_Demos_and_the_Open_Society_Foundation&pPK=787e3f14-2b05-4a06-9469-1c9306da08e6" >a wide-ranging speech, he said that political reform was a key facet of the "open society" he and other liberals wanted, alongside more social mobility and fairer wealth distribution. | |
| He also urged "bold leadership" from the UK in Europe after recent disputes. | He also urged "bold leadership" from the UK in Europe after recent disputes. |
| The deputy prime minister and Lib Dem leader used a speech to the think tank Demos, on the day before Parliament breaks up for the Christmas recess, to restate his political principles and emphasise differences between his party and his Conservative coalition partners. | The deputy prime minister and Lib Dem leader used a speech to the think tank Demos, on the day before Parliament breaks up for the Christmas recess, to restate his political principles and emphasise differences between his party and his Conservative coalition partners. |
| His remarks follow days of wrangling between the two parties over Europe and claims from Labour that the Lib Dems were sidelined during negotiations over proposed EU treaty changes. | His remarks follow days of wrangling between the two parties over Europe and claims from Labour that the Lib Dems were sidelined during negotiations over proposed EU treaty changes. |
| "Hello, I'm Nick Clegg and I'm not a Tory. But I've no intention of walking out on the coalition." That's the nub of it. That's the message the deputy prime minister wants to get across from now until next election in 2015. | |
| His speech to a gathering of left-leaning think-tankers in London was a good opportunity to spell out those differences. Top of the list was marriage. Tax breaks for wedded couples - something David Cameron wants to see - is not what he wants. | |
| The government "shouldn't use the tax system to encourage a particular family form". The Lib Dem leader think it's illiberal, and a throwback to a 1950s model. | |
| We already knew there was a difference of opinion though because the Coalition Agreement says so, in black and white. The deputy prime minister just wants to remind people/voters. | |
| It's not a precursor to an imminent divorce though. It would be "the height of irresponsibility" to leave the coalition now, he said. Dealing with the deficit remains the focus. This is a decoupling not a divorce. | |
| Outlining his vision for an "open society", Mr Clegg said liberals "believe that the future can and ought to be better than the past", contrasting this with conservatives who he said often sought to preserve the status quo, "embracing change reluctantly, often after the event". | Outlining his vision for an "open society", Mr Clegg said liberals "believe that the future can and ought to be better than the past", contrasting this with conservatives who he said often sought to preserve the status quo, "embracing change reluctantly, often after the event". |
| While there was some "overlap" between this "open society" and David Cameron's flagship "Big Society" vision for community empowerment, he said there was an "important philosophical difference" in terms of where different political traditions believed power should reside in society. | While there was some "overlap" between this "open society" and David Cameron's flagship "Big Society" vision for community empowerment, he said there was an "important philosophical difference" in terms of where different political traditions believed power should reside in society. |
| He suggested the UK's "open-spirited people" were being held back by "closed institutions" - in business, politics, the media and the law - which hoarded power and were often unrepresentative of society as a whole. | He suggested the UK's "open-spirited people" were being held back by "closed institutions" - in business, politics, the media and the law - which hoarded power and were often unrepresentative of society as a whole. |
| "Media moguls, dodgy lobbyists corrupting our politics, irresponsible bankers taking us for a ride and then helping themselves to massive bonuses, boardrooms closed against the interests of shareholders and workers," he said. "The values of the hoarders are increasingly out of touch with the spirit of openness alive in the UK." | "Media moguls, dodgy lobbyists corrupting our politics, irresponsible bankers taking us for a ride and then helping themselves to massive bonuses, boardrooms closed against the interests of shareholders and workers," he said. "The values of the hoarders are increasingly out of touch with the spirit of openness alive in the UK." |
| The House of Lords was a "potent symbol" of this closed society, Mr Clegg said, stressing that he was committed to radically overhauling the legislature. Ministers are currently consulting on plans to reduce the size of the Upper Chamber to about 300 and to elect the vast majority of its representatives, starting in 2015. | The House of Lords was a "potent symbol" of this closed society, Mr Clegg said, stressing that he was committed to radically overhauling the legislature. Ministers are currently consulting on plans to reduce the size of the Upper Chamber to about 300 and to elect the vast majority of its representatives, starting in 2015. |
| Mr Clegg said the coalition would introduce legislation over the next 18 months to start this process - which many peers, including some Lib Dems, are opposed to. | Mr Clegg said the coalition would introduce legislation over the next 18 months to start this process - which many peers, including some Lib Dems, are opposed to. |
| "Lloyd George described the Lords as being a 'body of five hundred men chosen at random from amongst the unemployed'. To be honest it might be better if it was." | "Lloyd George described the Lords as being a 'body of five hundred men chosen at random from amongst the unemployed'. To be honest it might be better if it was." |
| While acknowledging the "value experience and expertise" that many current peers have, he said an unelected chamber could not be defended in the 21st Century. | While acknowledging the "value experience and expertise" that many current peers have, he said an unelected chamber could not be defended in the 21st Century. |
| "The Lords as currently constituted is an affront to the principles of openness which underpin a modern democracy... I am hopeful we can secure a significant degree of cross-party consensus on this and indeed support from Lords themselves. But let there be no doubt. If it comes to a fight, the will of the Commons will prevail." | "The Lords as currently constituted is an affront to the principles of openness which underpin a modern democracy... I am hopeful we can secure a significant degree of cross-party consensus on this and indeed support from Lords themselves. But let there be no doubt. If it comes to a fight, the will of the Commons will prevail." |
| While both the Lib Dems and Conservatives officially support Lords reform, Mr Clegg's party is widely seen to be far more enthusiastic about the idea. | While both the Lib Dems and Conservatives officially support Lords reform, Mr Clegg's party is widely seen to be far more enthusiastic about the idea. |
| Sharing power | Sharing power |
| On the economy, Mr Clegg said his party would intervene to stop "irresponsible" bank bonuses and said they wanted to use the tax system to mitigate the "inequality of wealth" which he said pervaded British society and which risked being "cascaded down the generations". | On the economy, Mr Clegg said his party would intervene to stop "irresponsible" bank bonuses and said they wanted to use the tax system to mitigate the "inequality of wealth" which he said pervaded British society and which risked being "cascaded down the generations". |
| Citing the Lib Dems' influence over coalition policies to raise capital gains tax and reduce income tax for the low-paid, he said: "Of course, I would like to go further in pursuit of this fiscal liberalism. Lower taxes on work and effort, a greater contribution from the wealthy." | Citing the Lib Dems' influence over coalition policies to raise capital gains tax and reduce income tax for the low-paid, he said: "Of course, I would like to go further in pursuit of this fiscal liberalism. Lower taxes on work and effort, a greater contribution from the wealthy." |
| Turning to Europe, Mr Clegg said greater engagement was needed in the months ahead and he warned against the risk of "narrow nationalism". | Turning to Europe, Mr Clegg said greater engagement was needed in the months ahead and he warned against the risk of "narrow nationalism". |
| "Just as it is often better to share power within a nation, it is often better to share power between nations. And when it has counted most, Europeans have stood together. Recognising that we are stronger shoulder-to-shoulder than we are apart. | "Just as it is often better to share power within a nation, it is often better to share power between nations. And when it has counted most, Europeans have stood together. Recognising that we are stronger shoulder-to-shoulder than we are apart. |
| "So we will be re-engaging on a whole host of vital issues... showing bold leadership on defence and foreign affairs." | "So we will be re-engaging on a whole host of vital issues... showing bold leadership on defence and foreign affairs." |
| Both parties have insisted that the coalition government remains strong despite their differences over Europe and other issues such as tax breaks for married couples, which Mr Clegg is opposed to. | Both parties have insisted that the coalition government remains strong despite their differences over Europe and other issues such as tax breaks for married couples, which Mr Clegg is opposed to. |