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| Lib Dem conference: Clegg rules out cuts 'on backs of poor' | Lib Dem conference: Clegg rules out cuts 'on backs of poor' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| By Justin Parkinson Political reporter, BBC News, in Brighton | By Justin Parkinson Political reporter, BBC News, in Brighton |
| Nick Clegg has insisted the coalition will not make further spending cuts "on the backs of the poor". | Nick Clegg has insisted the coalition will not make further spending cuts "on the backs of the poor". |
| The Liberal Democrat leader said he would not agree to more savings unless some form of "wealth tax" was agreed to by the Conservatives. | The Liberal Democrat leader said he would not agree to more savings unless some form of "wealth tax" was agreed to by the Conservatives. |
| He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show he would "not flinch" amid growing speculation about his future. | He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show he would "not flinch" amid growing speculation about his future. |
| Mr Clegg also said there was "extraordinary resolution and unity" at the party's annual conference. | Mr Clegg also said there was "extraordinary resolution and unity" at the party's annual conference. |
| The Liberal Democrats are holding their annual conference in Brighton, with the leadership keen to promote a sense of discipline amid poor opinion poll ratings. | The Liberal Democrats are holding their annual conference in Brighton, with the leadership keen to promote a sense of discipline amid poor opinion poll ratings. |
| 'Want to pay' | 'Want to pay' |
| The theme of the event is "fairer tax in tough times". Mr Clegg is promising to ensure that the next government spending review will not include further spending cuts without a measure of wealth tax. | The theme of the event is "fairer tax in tough times". Mr Clegg is promising to ensure that the next government spending review will not include further spending cuts without a measure of wealth tax. |
| He said: "I think many people of considerable wealth in this country want to pay." | He said: "I think many people of considerable wealth in this country want to pay." |
| He added: "The vast majority of people in this country won't find it acceptable if further fiscal austerity was implemented on the backs of the poor... | |
| "I'm not saying something as big as welfare is immune from further savings but I'm saying that the burden has to be spread fairly." | "I'm not saying something as big as welfare is immune from further savings but I'm saying that the burden has to be spread fairly." |
| The Lib Dems already have a policy of imposing a 1% charge - a "mansion tax" - on expensive properties above a threshold of £2m and are investigating further proposals. | |
| But the Conservatives oppose introducing a wealth tax, saying it would be unfair to impose it after a home or other large asset had been purchased. | But the Conservatives oppose introducing a wealth tax, saying it would be unfair to impose it after a home or other large asset had been purchased. |
| 'Do more' | |
| Mr Clegg said that "so far I have failed" to persuade Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne to accept his party's arguments, adding: "But the mansion tax is not the only way in which you can make people at the top make a fair contribution to this huge national effort of balancing the books. | |
| "We have already illustrated through capital gains tax, through stamp duty, through tax avoidance and many other measures ... the top 10% pay more and we can do more of that. | |
| "There are numerous ways that we have already done it and numerous ways that you can do more of it." | |
| In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander promised an extra 100 HM Revenue and Customs staff devoted to fighting tax avoidance by people with assets worth more than £1m. Previously the threshold was £2.5m. | In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander promised an extra 100 HM Revenue and Customs staff devoted to fighting tax avoidance by people with assets worth more than £1m. Previously the threshold was £2.5m. |
| Earlier this week Mr Clegg apologised for breaking his pre-election promise not to support an increase in tuition fees. | Earlier this week Mr Clegg apologised for breaking his pre-election promise not to support an increase in tuition fees. |
| And the latest poll by Opinium, published in the Observer newspaper, puts Labour on 42% and the Conservatives on 30%. | And the latest poll by Opinium, published in the Observer newspaper, puts Labour on 42% and the Conservatives on 30%. |
| It places the Lib Dems on 8%, behind the UK Independence Party, on 10%. | It places the Lib Dems on 8%, behind the UK Independence Party, on 10%. |
| But Mr Clegg said he would not be deterred from the coalition's main stated aim of cutting the budget deficit, telling the Andrew Marr Show: "When you are half-way up a mountain you should not bail out.... I am not going to flinch." | But Mr Clegg said he would not be deterred from the coalition's main stated aim of cutting the budget deficit, telling the Andrew Marr Show: "When you are half-way up a mountain you should not bail out.... I am not going to flinch." |
| The Opinium poll represents the views of 1,681 people who indicated they were likely to vote from 1,984 online interviews. | The Opinium poll represents the views of 1,681 people who indicated they were likely to vote from 1,984 online interviews. |