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Nick Clegg: Liberal Democrats 'here to stay' Nick Clegg: Liberal Democrats 'here to stay'
(about 1 hour later)
The Liberal Democrats are "here to stay", and will defy poor poll predictions in the general election, party leader Nick Clegg is to say. The Liberal Democrats are "here to stay", and will defy poor poll predictions in the general election, party leader Nick Clegg will say.
In his keynote speech at the party's spring conference in Liverpool, Mr Clegg will insist the Lib Dems will do "better than anyone thinks" on 7 May. Mr Clegg is delivering his keynote speech at the party's spring conference in Liverpool and will say it will do "better than anyone thinks" on 7 May.
The party "can and will win" in areas where it can mount a strong campaign, the deputy prime minister will say.The party "can and will win" in areas where it can mount a strong campaign, the deputy prime minister will say.
He will urge members to be proud of the party's record in coalition government.He will urge members to be proud of the party's record in coalition government.
Hailing the party's "incredible resilience", he will say: "It is because of our resilience that Britain has a strong, stable government and a strong, stable recovery.Hailing the party's "incredible resilience", he will say: "It is because of our resilience that Britain has a strong, stable government and a strong, stable recovery.
"It is because of our resilience that we have been able to achieve incredible things. And it is because of that resilience that we will defy the odds and win again this May."It is because of our resilience that we have been able to achieve incredible things. And it is because of that resilience that we will defy the odds and win again this May.
"So when people tell you we can't, tell them where to go. I have a message for all those who are writing us off once again: the Liberal Democrats are here to stay.""So when people tell you we can't, tell them where to go. I have a message for all those who are writing us off once again: the Liberal Democrats are here to stay."
'Tarnished by coalition''Tarnished by coalition'
The BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins said Mr Clegg would aim to bolster the confidence of party activists, and would remind them of the Lib Dems' single by-election win in Eastleigh during this Parliament. The BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins said Mr Clegg and his colleagues reassure themselves that internal polls suggest the party is better placed than it appears in the published data - and flag up the party's single by-election win in Eastleigh during this Parliament.
"He and his colleagues reassure themselves that internal polls show the party better placed than the published data," our correspondent said.
However, former Lib Dem president Tim Farron has said he believes the party could suffer for a generation as a result of the decision to go into coalition with the Conservatives.However, former Lib Dem president Tim Farron has said he believes the party could suffer for a generation as a result of the decision to go into coalition with the Conservatives.
Mr Farron told the Mail on Sunday: "In 2010, many people said, 'I am not voting for you because of the (1970s) Lib-Lab pact,' when I was seven years old."Mr Farron told the Mail on Sunday: "In 2010, many people said, 'I am not voting for you because of the (1970s) Lib-Lab pact,' when I was seven years old."
"Just think what going into coalition with the Tories will do to our brand over the next generation."Just think what going into coalition with the Tories will do to our brand over the next generation.
"Integrity is important. You must not only keep your word but be seen to keep your word. You can say no.""Integrity is important. You must not only keep your word but be seen to keep your word. You can say no."
But the party's former leader, Lord Ashdown echoed Mr Clegg's message.But the party's former leader, Lord Ashdown echoed Mr Clegg's message.
"There's a certain bloody-minded resilience about every Liberal Democrat, and we have thoroughly enjoyed in the past proving the pundits wrong, and we're really looking forward to doing it again," he said."There's a certain bloody-minded resilience about every Liberal Democrat, and we have thoroughly enjoyed in the past proving the pundits wrong, and we're really looking forward to doing it again," he said.
"I know it's easy for you to sit there, look at the polls and think that's everything, but if you look a little deeper you find a very different message, and we know that, even if you don't.""I know it's easy for you to sit there, look at the polls and think that's everything, but if you look a little deeper you find a very different message, and we know that, even if you don't."
'Stable and successful''Stable and successful'
Appealing to wavering voters, Mr Clegg will say: "If you are thinking of voting Conservative but are worried that they won't be fair - don't do it. If you are thinking of voting Labour but are worried they will ruin the economy - don't do it.Appealing to wavering voters, Mr Clegg will say: "If you are thinking of voting Conservative but are worried that they won't be fair - don't do it. If you are thinking of voting Labour but are worried they will ruin the economy - don't do it.
"If you think a vote for UKIP, or the Greens, or the SNP is harmless - it isn't.""If you think a vote for UKIP, or the Greens, or the SNP is harmless - it isn't."
At the conference in Liverpool on Saturday, Mr Clegg said the final significant decisions of the current coalition government had already been taken, with negotiations over Wednesday's Budget almost finalised.At the conference in Liverpool on Saturday, Mr Clegg said the final significant decisions of the current coalition government had already been taken, with negotiations over Wednesday's Budget almost finalised.
He will tell activists that the fact the coalition has lasted the full term of the Parliament meant the Lib Dems had "changed the political landscape forever".He will tell activists that the fact the coalition has lasted the full term of the Parliament meant the Lib Dems had "changed the political landscape forever".
"We broke the stranglehold of the two old parties and proved that coalition can be strong, stable and successful," he will say."We broke the stranglehold of the two old parties and proved that coalition can be strong, stable and successful," he will say.
The party's deputy leader, Malcolm Bruce, admitted it would be a fight to get voters on board, but he said the country was better off for having had the Lib Dems in the coalition government.The party's deputy leader, Malcolm Bruce, admitted it would be a fight to get voters on board, but he said the country was better off for having had the Lib Dems in the coalition government.
"What we want people to recognise is if you don't have the Liberal Democrats as a key party in the centre ground - given that neither Labour nor the Conservatives look like they're going to win - you're going to have a pretty chaotic and shambolic Parliament.""What we want people to recognise is if you don't have the Liberal Democrats as a key party in the centre ground - given that neither Labour nor the Conservatives look like they're going to win - you're going to have a pretty chaotic and shambolic Parliament."