Nick Clegg has used an impassioned leader's speech to the Liberal Democrat conference to launch a savage attack on both Labour and the Conservatives.Labour have "no heart, no mind, no soul," Mr Clegg said. "[They are] stumbling around with no idea what to do. They are a zombie government." Turning his fire on the Conservatives, Mr Clegg implied David Cameron's party believed in nothing but their natural right to govern. "They are a say everything, do nothing party," he told party members. Mr Cameron wanted to become the "Andrex puppy" of British politics, he continued. "Cameron's only aim was to make the Conservatives inoffensive. Problem is, once you strip out the offensive parts of the Conservative party, there isn't much left." But the full force of Mr Clegg's arguments was reserved for the government. "Labour offers nothing," he said. "They're so desperate to protect their own jobs, they can't be bothered to protect other people's." He made particular mileage out of the party's internal strife, referring to "all these backbenchers and ex-ministers you've never heard of rising up from the grave of obscurity to impale their Gordon Brown". He continued: "Remember 1997? Things can only get better? "We were told our country would be a success – and no-one would be left behind. "It didn't happen. New Labour failed. "But there is a new, New Labour on the block. Blue Labour: the Conservative party. "Let our country not be fooled again." Mr Clegg set out the general policy direction of a Liberal Democrat government, calling for action to stop repossessions, market regulation to stop irresponsible activity by banks and speculators, a cutting down on City bonuses and finally – his big policy idea of the conference – tax cuts for low and middle income families. Selling the policy as a left-wing move, rather than the drift to the right his opponents have described it as, Mr Clegg said: "The money must go direct to people on low and middle incomes. "The very wealthy, the super-rich – should be paying more not less. "I will never support the Tory idea that you cut taxes for millionaires and the benefits somehow trickle down. "That's not what struggling families need. They need their money back." The Liberal democrat conference has passed off without a hitch, except for the media spotlight being distracted by financial trauma in the City and leadership speculation in the Labour party. Scottish National party (SNP) Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP criticised the speech's omission of Scottish politics. "Mr Clegg speaks optimistically of the road to power but he seems to have forgotten that the Liberal Democrats are losing to the SNP in Scotland," he said. "Not only did they see their vote squeezed in Glasgow East but the latest polling figures show they are ten per cent down in advance of the next general election."
Friday, September 19, 2008
Clegg launches savage attack on Labour and Tories
Nick Clegg delivering his speech today
Nick Clegg has used an impassioned leader's speech to the Liberal Democrat conference to launch a savage attack on both Labour and the Conservatives.Labour have "no heart, no mind, no soul," Mr Clegg said. "[They are] stumbling around with no idea what to do. They are a zombie government." Turning his fire on the Conservatives, Mr Clegg implied David Cameron's party believed in nothing but their natural right to govern. "They are a say everything, do nothing party," he told party members. Mr Cameron wanted to become the "Andrex puppy" of British politics, he continued. "Cameron's only aim was to make the Conservatives inoffensive. Problem is, once you strip out the offensive parts of the Conservative party, there isn't much left." But the full force of Mr Clegg's arguments was reserved for the government. "Labour offers nothing," he said. "They're so desperate to protect their own jobs, they can't be bothered to protect other people's." He made particular mileage out of the party's internal strife, referring to "all these backbenchers and ex-ministers you've never heard of rising up from the grave of obscurity to impale their Gordon Brown". He continued: "Remember 1997? Things can only get better? "We were told our country would be a success – and no-one would be left behind. "It didn't happen. New Labour failed. "But there is a new, New Labour on the block. Blue Labour: the Conservative party. "Let our country not be fooled again." Mr Clegg set out the general policy direction of a Liberal Democrat government, calling for action to stop repossessions, market regulation to stop irresponsible activity by banks and speculators, a cutting down on City bonuses and finally – his big policy idea of the conference – tax cuts for low and middle income families. Selling the policy as a left-wing move, rather than the drift to the right his opponents have described it as, Mr Clegg said: "The money must go direct to people on low and middle incomes. "The very wealthy, the super-rich – should be paying more not less. "I will never support the Tory idea that you cut taxes for millionaires and the benefits somehow trickle down. "That's not what struggling families need. They need their money back." The Liberal democrat conference has passed off without a hitch, except for the media spotlight being distracted by financial trauma in the City and leadership speculation in the Labour party. Scottish National party (SNP) Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP criticised the speech's omission of Scottish politics. "Mr Clegg speaks optimistically of the road to power but he seems to have forgotten that the Liberal Democrats are losing to the SNP in Scotland," he said. "Not only did they see their vote squeezed in Glasgow East but the latest polling figures show they are ten per cent down in advance of the next general election."
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Nick Clegg has used an impassioned leader's speech to the Liberal Democrat conference to launch a savage attack on both Labour and the Conservatives.Labour have "no heart, no mind, no soul," Mr Clegg said. "[They are] stumbling around with no idea what to do. They are a zombie government." Turning his fire on the Conservatives, Mr Clegg implied David Cameron's party believed in nothing but their natural right to govern. "They are a say everything, do nothing party," he told party members. Mr Cameron wanted to become the "Andrex puppy" of British politics, he continued. "Cameron's only aim was to make the Conservatives inoffensive. Problem is, once you strip out the offensive parts of the Conservative party, there isn't much left." But the full force of Mr Clegg's arguments was reserved for the government. "Labour offers nothing," he said. "They're so desperate to protect their own jobs, they can't be bothered to protect other people's." He made particular mileage out of the party's internal strife, referring to "all these backbenchers and ex-ministers you've never heard of rising up from the grave of obscurity to impale their Gordon Brown". He continued: "Remember 1997? Things can only get better? "We were told our country would be a success – and no-one would be left behind. "It didn't happen. New Labour failed. "But there is a new, New Labour on the block. Blue Labour: the Conservative party. "Let our country not be fooled again." Mr Clegg set out the general policy direction of a Liberal Democrat government, calling for action to stop repossessions, market regulation to stop irresponsible activity by banks and speculators, a cutting down on City bonuses and finally – his big policy idea of the conference – tax cuts for low and middle income families. Selling the policy as a left-wing move, rather than the drift to the right his opponents have described it as, Mr Clegg said: "The money must go direct to people on low and middle incomes. "The very wealthy, the super-rich – should be paying more not less. "I will never support the Tory idea that you cut taxes for millionaires and the benefits somehow trickle down. "That's not what struggling families need. They need their money back." The Liberal democrat conference has passed off without a hitch, except for the media spotlight being distracted by financial trauma in the City and leadership speculation in the Labour party. Scottish National party (SNP) Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP criticised the speech's omission of Scottish politics. "Mr Clegg speaks optimistically of the road to power but he seems to have forgotten that the Liberal Democrats are losing to the SNP in Scotland," he said. "Not only did they see their vote squeezed in Glasgow East but the latest polling figures show they are ten per cent down in advance of the next general election."
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