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Clegg turns on 'hollow' Tories as Lib-Dems squabble over cuts
Nicholas Cecil, Deputy Political Editor23 Sep 2009
Nick Clegg today wound up a stormy Liberal Democrat conference by urging voters not to turn to the “hollow” Conservatives.
Declaring that only the Lib-Dems offered "real change", he tried to turn his party's guns firmly onto the Conservatives after the outburst of infighting which has rocked his leadership.
"Labour is dying on its feet," he was due to say in his speech in Bournemouth. "We are replacing them as the dominant force of progressive politics. We are the alternative to a hollow Conservative party that offers an illusion of change."
The Lib-Dem leader sought to reassert his authority after the open revolt over looming "savage" public spending cuts, the "mansion tax" on £1 million homes and the threat to means-test child benefit and shelve the flagship pledge to abolish university tuition fees.
With David Cameron relentlessly "love-bombing" liberal-minded voters, Mr Clegg pleaded with them to think twice before rejecting the Lib-Dems.
"Make no mistake," he was set to say. "There is only one party that will bring real change. The Liberal Democrats. Don't turn away, don't stay at home, don't vote Conservative just because you think it's the only option."
As his party seeks to stop the Tories seizing a string of its seats in southern England including a few in south-west London, Mr Clegg was arguing that voters desperate to oust Gordon Brown should not ignore his party.
He accepts he still has to convince some the Lib-Dems are "contenders", but was due to warn against sleepwalking into a Tory government.
"If you don't want big change in Britain, then don't vote for us" he will say, according to a draft of his speech. "But if you like what you hear, if you share our vision, then go with your instincts, vote Liberal Democrat."
Seizing on one of his party's recent successes, the Lib-Dem leader will try to reignite the political momentum it gained from the campaign to allow former Gurkhas to settle in the UK.
With some of the ex-soldiers in the audience, Mr Clegg was set to say: "I am so honoured to see here my friends who have fought for Britain and are finally allowed to stay in our country."
The Lib-Dem leader is attempting to reach out to Tory voters with swingeing spending cuts and to Labour's with the "mansion tax" and raising the starting rate of income tax to £10,000.
But as he prepared to give his speech, the internal turmoil within his own party was still rumbling on.
Resentment was simmering against Treasury spokesman Vince Cable over his failure to consult senior colleagues over his "mansion tax" plans.
Eighteen of the 29-strong federal policy committee also signalled that they will fight to defend the policy of scrapping university tuition fees.
Reader views (7)
We had a Lib Dem council for a few years where I live and it was chaotic. The buffoon in charge of roads and transport couldn't even drive - he went everywhere on the bus. So now we are lumbered with contra flow bus lanes, which have already cost one life and several injuries - God knows how many near misses. We have bus stops adjacent to and opposite busy junctions, and sticky out bus stops for wheelchairs - never seen one getting on a bus but we all have to suffer regardless, traffic calming pinch points which just cause noise, disruption and danger and traffic wardens who no longer wear yellow jackets but dark coloured to blend in with normal people. The council tax took off and went into orbit and the roads deteriorated.
- Saxon, Cowes, 23/09/2009 14:40
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Thats not technically true as the last polls showed Labour behind the Lib Dems
- Eshan, London, 23/09/2009 13:21
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Lib Dems used to be the Liberals then they changed it to Lib Dems I know because I remember it when I first started to vote they were the Liberals and the reason they are as they are and they changed their name they were the whiggs but in the early 20th century they got in and bankrupted the country my grandmother told me not to vote for them years ago as she knew what happened when they bankrupted the country. people have not forgotten. It is true that they have some Labour people in Vince Cable was Labour but I think because they did not get anywhere with Labour they went to the Lib Dems to see if they could get on there
- Jacqui Williams, peterborough cambs, 23/09/2009 12:09
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"Just remember
"A Liberal (Democrat) Vote is a Wasted Vote"
As is one for labour, the conservatives, UKIP, BNP, Greens or any of the rest of that repugnant, self-serving human effluant we call political class.
- Michael, London, 23/09/2009 12:03
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"There is only one party that will bring real change"
And it certainly won't be Liberal, there's only so much fence sitting and public spending one can do before the entire country collapses due to apathy and we're almost there at the moment.
- Bob, Cheam, 23/09/2009 11:25
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It should not be forgotten that the Lib_dems are a new party born from the defection of Labours left-wing Socialist that did not receive direct funding from the Unions and could no longer live amongst their fellow travellers.
What the Lib_dems are not is the Liberal Party with proud historical links going back to the 19th century.
- Ian, Reading, England, 23/09/2009 10:17
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Just remember
"A Liberal (Democrat) Vote is a Wasted Vote
- James, City of London, 23/09/2009 10:15
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