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Clegg to attack 'gutless' Labour Clegg to attack 'gutless' Labour
(about 2 hours 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. He will claim Labour's decision to adopt a Tory policy to cut inheritance tax and benefit the rich came 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. He is expected to call for a £25,000 cap 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. Mr Clegg's speech in Liverpool is seen as a chance to reassert his authority after a bruising week in which he lost a three of his frontbench team in a row over European policy.
Only we can transform the system, because we aren't part of it Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats If it means walking out of Parliament when the big parties collude against us, I say: fine Nick Clegg
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 Conservatives accused Mr Clegg 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 the Lib Dem leader has insisted he had no option and that the row will not damage the party in the long term.
Delegates voted overwhelmingly to back his plan to give patients the option to seek private treatment if needed. He has tried to switch focus this weekend to the issues he believes matter more to voters, such as education and health.
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. 'Anti-establishment'
His speech on Sunday is expected to include much criticism of his opponents to buoy party members, our correspondent said. On Saturday he received a boost when the conference voted to back his plans for a more personalised and decentralised NHS - although he was forced to make some concessions.
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 He has also vowed to wage war on Britain's "sclerotic" political system.
The Conservatives, he will say, are "a party bereft of belief that will say anything to get elected". He is expected to use his speech later to portray the Lib Dems as an "anti-establishment" party - and pledge to "do whatever it takes" to break the power of the two main parties.
And he will accuse their leader, David Cameron, of taking "a conscious, strategic decision not to have any policies". "If it means walking out of Parliament when the big parties collude against us, I say: fine," Mr Clegg will say.
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.
'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.
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.
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 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."
Attack
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.
Without such changes, he will warn Britain could end up like America where political influence is all about cash.
He will also stress the party's independence - mounting a scathing attack on his political opponents.
"Remember last autumn, after the election-that-never-was?," he will tell delegates.
"Alistair Darling nicked a policy from the Tories and announced an inheritance tax cut that will help the richest 6% of people. And do you know where they found the money?
"If the rumours are true, they scrapped a plan they'd been secretly developing all summer.
"A plan to cut child poverty. The future of hundreds of thousands of children sold down the river for a cheap political stunt.
"And the Labour backbenchers cheered and whooped.
"Gutless. Heartless. Incompetent."
The Conservatives, he will say, are "a party bereft of belief that will say anything to get elected".
And he will accuse Tory leader David Cameron of taking "a conscious, strategic decision not to have any policies".