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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Clegg to attack 'gutless' Labour | Clegg to attack 'gutless' Labour |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is expected to describe the government as "gutless, heartless and incompetent" in his first party conference speech as leader. | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is expected to describe the government as "gutless, heartless and incompetent" in his first party conference speech as leader. |
| The accusations will refer to Labour's decision to adopt a Tory policy to cut inheritance tax and benefit the rich at the cost of plans to cut child poverty. | The accusations will refer to Labour's decision to adopt a Tory policy to cut inheritance tax and benefit the rich at the cost of plans to cut child poverty. |
| Mr Clegg, party leader for three months, will also turn on the Tories, accusing the party of "sham politics". | Mr Clegg, party leader for three months, will also turn on the Tories, accusing the party of "sham politics". |
| He is expected to call for a £25,000cap on individual party donations. | |
| 'Big test' | 'Big test' |
| BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said Mr Clegg's speech in Liverpool would be a chance to reassert his authority after a difficult week in which he lost three of his frontbench team over European policy. | BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said Mr Clegg's speech in Liverpool would be a chance to reassert his authority after a difficult week in which he lost three of his frontbench team over European policy. |
| Only we can transform the system, because we aren't part of it Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats | Only we can transform the system, because we aren't part of it Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats |
| The Tories accused him of "flunking his first big test as leader" after 15 of his MPs defied his call for them to abstain in a vote on whether a referendum should be held on the new EU treaty. | The Tories accused him of "flunking his first big test as leader" after 15 of his MPs defied his call for them to abstain in a vote on whether a referendum should be held on the new EU treaty. |
| But on Saturday, Mr Clegg avoided a grassroots rebellion over his proposals for a shake-up of the NHS. | But on Saturday, Mr Clegg avoided a grassroots rebellion over his proposals for a shake-up of the NHS. |
| Delegates voted overwhelmingly to back his plan to give patients the option to seek private treatment if needed. | Delegates voted overwhelmingly to back his plan to give patients the option to seek private treatment if needed. |
| But he was forced to offer concessions on locally elected health boards - with delegates voting for a third of members to be made up of local councillors. | But he was forced to offer concessions on locally elected health boards - with delegates voting for a third of members to be made up of local councillors. |
| His speech on Sunday is expected to include much criticism of his opponents to buoy party members, our correspondent said. | His speech on Sunday is expected to include much criticism of his opponents to buoy party members, our correspondent said. |
| If it means risking court, and refusing to sign up for an identity card, I say bring it on Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats | If it means risking court, and refusing to sign up for an identity card, I say bring it on Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats |
| The Conservatives, he will say, are "a party bereft of belief that will say anything to get elected". | The Conservatives, he will say, are "a party bereft of belief that will say anything to get elected". |
| And he will accuse their leader, David Cameron, of taking "a conscious, strategic decision not to have any policies". | And he will accuse their leader, David Cameron, of taking "a conscious, strategic decision not to have any policies". |
| Mr Clegg will go on to pledge to "do whatever it takes" to break the power of the establishment parties. | Mr Clegg will go on to pledge to "do whatever it takes" to break the power of the establishment parties. |
| "They like having power and privilege sewn up between a few chums in the Westminster bubble. Only we can transform the system, because we aren't part of it," he will add. | "They like having power and privilege sewn up between a few chums in the Westminster bubble. Only we can transform the system, because we aren't part of it," he will add. |
| 'Big money politics' | 'Big money politics' |
| He will call for a cap on individual donations to political parties at £25,000 - half of what is recommended by an independent review, headed by Sir Hayden Philips. | He will call for a cap on individual donations to political parties at £25,000 - half of what is recommended by an independent review, headed by Sir Hayden Philips. |
| And he will say he wants an end to big money politics, big union donations and offshore finance from Belize, a reference to the Tory donor Lord Ashcroft. | And he will say he wants an end to big money politics, big union donations and offshore finance from Belize, a reference to the Tory donor Lord Ashcroft. |
| Without such changes, he will warn Britain could end up like America where political influence is all about cash. | Without such changes, he will warn Britain could end up like America where political influence is all about cash. |
| He will tell his members he is "not shy about doing whatever it takes". | He will tell his members he is "not shy about doing whatever it takes". |
| "If it means walking out of Parliament when the big parties collude against us, I say fine. | "If it means walking out of Parliament when the big parties collude against us, I say fine. |
| "If it means boycotting banquets that celebrate our relationship with dodgy regimes, like Vince Cable did, or speaking up to expose corruption like Chris Davies did, I say so be it. | "If it means boycotting banquets that celebrate our relationship with dodgy regimes, like Vince Cable did, or speaking up to expose corruption like Chris Davies did, I say so be it. |
| "If it means risking court, and refusing to sign up for an identity card, I say bring it on." | "If it means risking court, and refusing to sign up for an identity card, I say bring it on." |