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| Lib Dem conference: Nick Clegg in minimum wage tax pledge | Lib Dem conference: Nick Clegg in minimum wage tax pledge |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nick Clegg says he will push to ensure no one on the minimum wage pays income tax if the Lib Dems are in government after the next election. | Nick Clegg says he will push to ensure no one on the minimum wage pays income tax if the Lib Dems are in government after the next election. |
| The Lib Dem leader told the BBC coalition government was good for Britain and he indicated he could do a deal with Labour as well as the Tories. | The Lib Dem leader told the BBC coalition government was good for Britain and he indicated he could do a deal with Labour as well as the Tories. |
| He refused to spell out his red lines - the policies he would "die in a trench for" in coalition negotiations. | He refused to spell out his red lines - the policies he would "die in a trench for" in coalition negotiations. |
| But he said tax fairness would continue to be the party's "signature tune". | But he said tax fairness would continue to be the party's "signature tune". |
| He told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme coalition governments would be more likely in future rather than "these slam-dunk results where one or the other of the two major parties always get a majority" | He told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme coalition governments would be more likely in future rather than "these slam-dunk results where one or the other of the two major parties always get a majority" |
| Speaking from the Lib Dem annual conference in Glasgow, he said political parties needed to be "up-front with the British people about those issues which we really will die in the trench for and those which clearly will depend on political and economic circumstance". | |
| He declined to say, more than 18 months ahead of the election, which policies would be his "red lines" in any coalition talks. | He declined to say, more than 18 months ahead of the election, which policies would be his "red lines" in any coalition talks. |
| 'Finish the job' | 'Finish the job' |
| But he said: "I can give you a clue that... tax fairness will of course be one of the signature tunes for the Liberal Democrats." | But he said: "I can give you a clue that... tax fairness will of course be one of the signature tunes for the Liberal Democrats." |
| "We are committed as a party - and I am committed to this - to raising the allowance further such that... everybody on the minimum wage pays no income tax." | "We are committed as a party - and I am committed to this - to raising the allowance further such that... everybody on the minimum wage pays no income tax." |
| The personal allowance rose to £9,205 in April and to £10,000 in 2014, fulfilling a key Lib Dem demand in negotiations over the coalition agreement. Ensuring all those on the minimum wage paid no income tax would mean increasing the threshold to £11,400. | The personal allowance rose to £9,205 in April and to £10,000 in 2014, fulfilling a key Lib Dem demand in negotiations over the coalition agreement. Ensuring all those on the minimum wage paid no income tax would mean increasing the threshold to £11,400. |
| Property prices | Property prices |
| Mr Clegg said the UK needed Lib Dems in government because they would act as a moderating influence on the bigger parties, telling Andrew Marr: "If we go back to the bad old days, not of coalition or balanced politics, but of either the left or the right dominating government on their own, you will get a recovery which is neither fair nor sustainable. | Mr Clegg said the UK needed Lib Dems in government because they would act as a moderating influence on the bigger parties, telling Andrew Marr: "If we go back to the bad old days, not of coalition or balanced politics, but of either the left or the right dominating government on their own, you will get a recovery which is neither fair nor sustainable. |
| "I think Labour would wreck the recovery, and under the Conservatives - who don't have the same commitment to fairness which we do - you would get the wrong kind of recovery. | "I think Labour would wreck the recovery, and under the Conservatives - who don't have the same commitment to fairness which we do - you would get the wrong kind of recovery. |
| "Our message is that coalition is good, for the Liberal Democrats to stay in government is good, let us finish the job but let us finish it fairly." | "Our message is that coalition is good, for the Liberal Democrats to stay in government is good, let us finish the job but let us finish it fairly." |
| He said Labour needed to "spell out" what they believed in. | He said Labour needed to "spell out" what they believed in. |
| But he added that he was "absolutely not" already discussing a second coalition deal with the Tories, because, "you have to let the British people have their say first." | But he added that he was "absolutely not" already discussing a second coalition deal with the Tories, because, "you have to let the British people have their say first." |
| He said his party's commitment to a "mansion tax" on properties over £2m, raising £2bn, sent a signal that "even though we are committed to deficit reduction" that would not be achieved entirely through spending cuts. | He said his party's commitment to a "mansion tax" on properties over £2m, raising £2bn, sent a signal that "even though we are committed to deficit reduction" that would not be achieved entirely through spending cuts. |
| Mr Clegg also rejected fears - expressed by business secretary Vince Cable - a government scheme to back mortgages will lead to another unsustainable house price bubble but admitted ministers would have to be "vigilant" to ensure that did not happen. | Mr Clegg also rejected fears - expressed by business secretary Vince Cable - a government scheme to back mortgages will lead to another unsustainable house price bubble but admitted ministers would have to be "vigilant" to ensure that did not happen. |
| Visitor bond | Visitor bond |
| He also attacked Home Secretary Theresa May's immigration policies, describing an advertising van urging illegal immigrants to "go home" as "silly" and ineffective. | He also attacked Home Secretary Theresa May's immigration policies, describing an advertising van urging illegal immigrants to "go home" as "silly" and ineffective. |
| He said talks were still going on behind the scenes about plans for a cash bond to be paid by some overseas visitors to ensure they returned home when their visas expired. | He said talks were still going on behind the scenes about plans for a cash bond to be paid by some overseas visitors to ensure they returned home when their visas expired. |
| Mr Clegg wants the bond to be set at £1,000 and be offered to visitors from "high risk" countries who have been refused a visa as a "discretionary tool" for immigration officers. | Mr Clegg wants the bond to be set at £1,000 and be offered to visitors from "high risk" countries who have been refused a visa as a "discretionary tool" for immigration officers. |
| Ms May wants a £3,000 bond for all visitors from so-called "high risk" countries. | Ms May wants a £3,000 bond for all visitors from so-called "high risk" countries. |
| It came as Liberal Democrats voted to support the building of a new generation of nuclear power plants - a policy U-turn which marks an important victory for the party's leadership. | |
| Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey had urged activists to drop their traditional opposition to nuclear energy. |