Brown 'is threatening democracy'

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Gordon Brown's attempts to recruit politicians from other parties is a "threat to democracy", Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable has warned.

He told a meeting at the party conference in Brighton that the prime minister wanted to "create a permanent dominance" for Labour.

The Lib Dems had to "establish ownership rights" on issues such as the environment and Europe, Mr Cable added.

They should not allow other parties on to the "centre ground", he said.

In recent weeks, Mr Brown has announced that Lib Dem MP Matthew Taylor, Lib Dem peer Baroness Williams and Tory MPs Patrick Mercer and John Bercow will advise him on policy.

'Fight'

Mr Cable said the "offer from Gordon Brown to join the big tent" had to be rejected.

He added: "What he's doing is not just a threat to us or the Tories but a threat to democracy, an attempt to stifle democracy.

"He's trying to create a permanent dominance. That's something we can fight."

Mr Cable said the Lib Dems had to "establish ownership rights" over its policies on the environment, Iraq, nuclear weapons and "redistributive" taxation.

He added: "We've got a clear, distinctive position that we shouldn't resile from."

'Let's pull together'

Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg told the same meeting that the party should not do the "spade work" of its opponents by criticising leader Sir Menzies Campbell.

There were already enough people in the media and other parties "having a pop at Ming", he added.

Mr Clegg said: "When a party is under pressure, we can go one of two ways. We can turn inwards and start pointing fingers at each other.

"Or we can pull together, especially as we might have a general election in a few weeks' time."

Mr Clegg comments come after senior Lib Dem peer Lord Rodgers said Sir Menzies' leadership had been "disappointing".