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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scots Lib Dems 'can be different' | Scots Lib Dems 'can be different' |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has given his blessing to Scottish colleagues to have different policies from main UK party. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has given his blessing to Scottish colleagues to have different policies from main UK party. |
| He also set his party the task of doubling its current tally of 12 Scottish MPs within six years. | He also set his party the task of doubling its current tally of 12 Scottish MPs within six years. |
| Mr Clegg set out his vision in a keynote speech at the Scottish Liberal Democrats conference in Aviemore. | Mr Clegg set out his vision in a keynote speech at the Scottish Liberal Democrats conference in Aviemore. |
| It was the first since the Lib Dems lost power at Holyrood in last May's Scottish election. | It was the first since the Lib Dems lost power at Holyrood in last May's Scottish election. |
| Mr Clegg also claimed it was his party which was the leading force in the previous eight years of coalition government with Labour at Holyrood. | Mr Clegg also claimed it was his party which was the leading force in the previous eight years of coalition government with Labour at Holyrood. |
| 'Tall order' | |
| He said the Scottish Parliament was established to hand power to those who knew how best to use it. | He said the Scottish Parliament was established to hand power to those who knew how best to use it. |
| Mr Clegg said: "Does that mean that our Scottish party might have different policies from the Welsh party or the English party? | Mr Clegg said: "Does that mean that our Scottish party might have different policies from the Welsh party or the English party? |
| "Yes it might - and that's fine by me. | "Yes it might - and that's fine by me. |
| "That's what our vision for home rule is all about. The principles that guide our party are universal but the circumstances that shape our politics are not." | "That's what our vision for home rule is all about. The principles that guide our party are universal but the circumstances that shape our politics are not." |
| The big ideas, the big achievements, of the first eight years of devolution were Liberal Democrat ideas Nick Clegg | The big ideas, the big achievements, of the first eight years of devolution were Liberal Democrat ideas Nick Clegg |
| On the call for 24 MPs in Scotland, Mr Clegg said: "It's a tall order and it won't be easy, but we can get there. | On the call for 24 MPs in Scotland, Mr Clegg said: "It's a tall order and it won't be easy, but we can get there. |
| "We can only shape the future if we push our way to the centre of power, elected on a mandate for change." | "We can only shape the future if we push our way to the centre of power, elected on a mandate for change." |
| Mr Clegg went on to claim Labour had run out of steam, adding: "The big ideas, the big achievements, of the first eight years of devolution were Liberal Democrat ideas - each and every one of them. | Mr Clegg went on to claim Labour had run out of steam, adding: "The big ideas, the big achievements, of the first eight years of devolution were Liberal Democrat ideas - each and every one of them. |
| "And they were not achieved because of the Labour Party - they were achieved in spite of the Labour Party." | "And they were not achieved because of the Labour Party - they were achieved in spite of the Labour Party." |
| Mr Clegg went on to claim that the Tories, "which never wanted a parliament in the first place", "now hangs around at the feet of (first minister) Alex Salmond in the desperate hope of scraps from his table". | Mr Clegg went on to claim that the Tories, "which never wanted a parliament in the first place", "now hangs around at the feet of (first minister) Alex Salmond in the desperate hope of scraps from his table". |
| And less than a year after the SNP took power in Scotland, he added, there was barely an idea, policy or commitment that the party had been unwilling to sling overboard. | And less than a year after the SNP took power in Scotland, he added, there was barely an idea, policy or commitment that the party had been unwilling to sling overboard. |
| "In government, they have found that reality bites," said Mr Clegg. | "In government, they have found that reality bites," said Mr Clegg. |
| "Bluster, hubris and spin have been their cover for a record of broken promises and over-centralisation." | "Bluster, hubris and spin have been their cover for a record of broken promises and over-centralisation." |