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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Clegg promises 'momentous' year | Clegg promises 'momentous' year |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| New Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has used his New Year message to promise his party a "momentous" 2008. | New Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has used his New Year message to promise his party a "momentous" 2008. |
| He urged party members to take the "unparalleled opportunity" to win over millions more voters and to break Britain's "stale" two-party system. | He urged party members to take the "unparalleled opportunity" to win over millions more voters and to break Britain's "stale" two-party system. |
| Mr Clegg, who succeeded Sir Menzies Campbell earlier this month, also pledged to campaign "tirelessly" against "expensive, invasive" ID cards. | |
| He attacked Tory policy which, he said, blocked opportunity. | He attacked Tory policy which, he said, blocked opportunity. |
| We must reach beyond the stale two-party system to the millions of people who share our liberal values and change Britain for the better Nick CleggLib Dem leader Brown's New Year messageCameron's message | We must reach beyond the stale two-party system to the millions of people who share our liberal values and change Britain for the better Nick CleggLib Dem leader Brown's New Year messageCameron's message |
| Mr Clegg, an ex-journalist and former MEP, is the third Lib Dem leader in three years to deliver the party's New Year message. | Mr Clegg, an ex-journalist and former MEP, is the third Lib Dem leader in three years to deliver the party's New Year message. |
| He said he had the leadership skills that would enable the party to challenge the dominance of Labour and the Conservatives by tapping into Britain's liberal beliefs. | He said he had the leadership skills that would enable the party to challenge the dominance of Labour and the Conservatives by tapping into Britain's liberal beliefs. |
| "We have before us an unparalleled opportunity," he said. "We must reach beyond the stale two-party system to the millions of people who share our liberal values and change Britain for the better. | "We have before us an unparalleled opportunity," he said. "We must reach beyond the stale two-party system to the millions of people who share our liberal values and change Britain for the better. |
| "Let us show what that means in the local elections that face us this spring." | "Let us show what that means in the local elections that face us this spring." |
| Power to families | Power to families |
| He said he wanted to put British families back in control of their everyday lives, especially on issues such as flexible working, ID cards or TV advertising. | He said he wanted to put British families back in control of their everyday lives, especially on issues such as flexible working, ID cards or TV advertising. |
| "Giving power and responsibility to families - of every shape and size, of every background - is the only way to make sure everyone has a fair chance in life," he said. | "Giving power and responsibility to families - of every shape and size, of every background - is the only way to make sure everyone has a fair chance in life," he said. |
| He said he wanted spending on pupils from poor backgrounds equal to that in private schools and he would also cut taxes for low-income families if he came to power. | He said he wanted spending on pupils from poor backgrounds equal to that in private schools and he would also cut taxes for low-income families if he came to power. |
| Attacking Tory leader David Cameron's attempts to attract Lib Dem supporters, Mr Clegg said the Conservatives did not really want equality of opportunity. | Attacking Tory leader David Cameron's attempts to attract Lib Dem supporters, Mr Clegg said the Conservatives did not really want equality of opportunity. |
| "They talk about social justice, but want to return to a Victorian-style voluntary system. | "They talk about social justice, but want to return to a Victorian-style voluntary system. |
| "They talk about families, but only want to help married couples. They talk about tax cuts, but don't say where they'll find the money." | "They talk about families, but only want to help married couples. They talk about tax cuts, but don't say where they'll find the money." |
| Data loss | Data loss |
| Mr Clegg went on to attack what he called the "expensive, invasive and unnecessary identity cards scheme". | Mr Clegg went on to attack what he called the "expensive, invasive and unnecessary identity cards scheme". |
| "The child benefit and learner drivers' data loss scandals mean there is a looming crisis of public confidence in the government's capacity to look after their personal information," he said. | "The child benefit and learner drivers' data loss scandals mean there is a looming crisis of public confidence in the government's capacity to look after their personal information," he said. |
| "So let 2008 be the year we bring down the identity cards scheme." | "So let 2008 be the year we bring down the identity cards scheme." |
| Charles Kennedy quit as Lib Dem leader in January 2006 after a frontbench rebellion having admitted he had a drink problem. | Charles Kennedy quit as Lib Dem leader in January 2006 after a frontbench rebellion having admitted he had a drink problem. |
| Sir Menzies resigned in October, blaming an age-obsessed media. | Sir Menzies resigned in October, blaming an age-obsessed media. |