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Clegg urges new political system Clegg urges new political system
(10 minutes later)
Nick Clegg has said he will not join a Labour or Tory Cabinet - but will push for a "new type of government" instead. Nick Clegg says he will never join a Labour or Tory Cabinet - but will push for a "new type of government" instead.
Lib Dem leaders have traditionally made proportional representation the price of a deal with other parties in the event of a hung parliament.Lib Dem leaders have traditionally made proportional representation the price of a deal with other parties in the event of a hung parliament.
But in his first UK conference speech as leader Nick Clegg demanded a shake-up of the whole political system. He called for a Constitutional Convention to redraw the rules by which Britain is governed. But in his first speech as leader Nick Clegg went further by demanding a shake-up of the whole political system.
In his speech to the party's spring conference in Liverpool, Mr Clegg also attempted to move on from a damaging row over the EU treaty. He called for a Constitutional Convention to redraw the rules by which Britain is governed.
In a speech to the party's spring conference in Liverpool, Mr Clegg attempted to move on from a damaging row over the EU treaty.
He did not mention the treaty once in his speech, focusing instead on portraying the party as an "anti-establishment" force that can smash the two party system.He did not mention the treaty once in his speech, focusing instead on portraying the party as an "anti-establishment" force that can smash the two party system.
'Big money politics''Big money politics'
He also called for a new crackdown on sleaze - with by-elections for MPs who break the rules.He also called for a new crackdown on sleaze - with by-elections for MPs who break the rules.
And he called for an "end to big money politics" - proposing a £25,000 limit on political donations.And he called for an "end to big money politics" - proposing a £25,000 limit on political donations.
He addressed the question of alliances with other parties head-on, saying he would never join a Conservative or a Labour government. He also addressed the question of alliances with other parties head-on, saying he would never join a Conservative or a Labour government.
"I will never allow the Liberal Democrats to be a mere annexe to another party."I will never allow the Liberal Democrats to be a mere annexe to another party.
"But am I interested in building a new type of government? Yes"But am I interested in building a new type of government? Yes
'Redesign' system
"Based on pluralism instead of one party rule? Yes"Based on pluralism instead of one party rule? Yes
"A new system, that empowers people not parties? Yes. "We want a new, more liberal Britain." "A new system, that empowers people not parties? Yes.
"We want a new, more liberal Britain."
He repeated the party's demand for electoral reform but said it "wasn't enough".He repeated the party's demand for electoral reform but said it "wasn't enough".
He said he wanted to "redesign" Britain's political sysytem for the 21st Century.He said he wanted to "redesign" Britain's political sysytem for the 21st Century.
An aide refused to be drawn on the precise details of the new "pluralistic" government said the party was not interested in having a "few Cabinet ministers sitting in a Tory or Labour government". An aides refused to be drawn on the precise details of the new "pluralistic" government said the party was not interested in having a "few Cabinet ministers sitting in a Tory or Labour government".
He wanted a wholesale review of the entire constitution.He wanted a wholesale review of the entire constitution.