26/09/2012 Today at Conference

This programme contains flashing images.

Good evening and welcome back to Brighton for a round-up of the

final day of the Liberal Democrat conference.

Hang in there, when the economy starts recovering, so will the

Liberal Democrats. That was Nick Clegg's message to

his party faithful in his big speech today.

The Coalition would stick to its ecionomic plan, but the Lib Dems

were pushing for fairer, greener, government.

That was his message to the country. Elsewhere, Nick Clegg's saying

he'll lead his party up to the general election and beyond.

We test the mood to see if the party's keen to follow him.

And, the Conference gives a thumbs down to George Osborne's planning

reforms. The stage is being dismanteled, Nick Clegg has had his

say, what a bleak message it was. Times are tough. Tough for the

economy, tougher still for Liberal Democrats trying it defend the

Coalition's economic plan. There was no easy alternative. And, with

the polls looking grim it was time for the Lib Dems to show the

country they were a responsible party of power. To give the troops

the pep talk they needed. Olympians and paralympians have

reminded us of is that for most people success doesn't come easy or

quick. That's what our culture of instant celebrity object cures, the

real achievement in the real world, it takes time, effort, perseverence

and resilience. The war veteran, a victim of a roadside bomb in

Afghanistan competing at the Paralympics. The businessman, the

victim of an arson attack in south London, serving his customers again.

The millions of people up-and-down the country who no matter how

heroic or mundane their battles keep going, keep trying, keep

working, whatever life throws at them. These, these are the

qualities that will see our country through these tough times. These

are the qualities that will guide our party through tough times too.

Let's take our example from the British people as together we

embark on the journey ahead. Our party, from the come forts of

opposition, to the hard realities of government, and our country,

from the sacrifices of austerity to the rewards of shared prosperity.

Two journeys linked. The success of each depending on the success of

the other. Neither will be easy and neither will be quick. It will be

worth it. Be in no doubt, if we secure our country's future, we

will secure our own. If we fail to deal with our debts and tackle the

weaknesss in our economy, our country will pay a heavy political

price. But the human cost would be higher still. Not only would we

fall behind internationally, we would leave a trail of victims at

home too. To those who ask what we, the Liberal Democrats, are doing

cutting public spending, I simply say this. Who suffers most when

governments go bust? When they can and pensions? Not the bankers and

the hedge fund managers, that is for sure. No, it would be the poor,

the old, the infirm, those with the least to fall back on. The truth is

this, there is no silver bullet that will instantly solve all our

economic problems. Some of our problems are structural, others

international. All will take time to overcome. We are dealing with an

ongoing surge in globe energy, food and comodity prices. A crisis in

the Eurozone and a banking collapse which more than four years on is

still blocking the arteries of our entire economic system. Ranged

against these forces the idea that if government just deregulated a

bit more, as Liam Fox proposess or borrows and spent more as Ed Balls

suggests, we would at a stroke get lasting growth is just not credible.

In my experience if you are being attacked by Liam Fox from one side

and Ed Balls from the other, you're in the right place, by the way.

APPLAUSE Of course, so much of this is about

perception. People keep telling me we should be doing what Barack

Obama did with his fiscal stimulus. What they don't tell you is that

much of what the President had to legislate for, we are already doing

automatically. So let's not allow the caricature of what we are doing

go unchallenged. If Plan A really was as ridgied and dogmattic as our

critics claim, I would be demanding a Plan B and getting Danny and

Vince to design it. But it isn't. Which is why you were right,

earlier this week, to overwhelmingly reject the call for

us to change our economic course. We have taken big and bold steps to

support, demand and boost growth. We stand ready to do so again and

again and again until self- sustaining growth returns.

APPLAUSE Now, at the last Budget we made two

big announcements. That we were spending �3,000 million increasing

the tax free allowance and just �50 million reducing the top rate of

tax while recouping five times that amount in additional taxes on the

wealthiest. I insisted on the first, I conceded the second, but I stand

by the package as a whole. Why? Because as liberals we want to see

the tax on work reduced, the tax on unearned wealth increased and the

system as a whole tilted in favour of those on low and middle incomes.

The Budget delivered all three, but let me make one thing clear. Now,

we brought the top rate of tax down to 45p, a level, let's not forget,

that is still higher than throughout Labour's 13 years in

office, there can be no question of reducing it further in this

Parliament. APPLAUSE

All future cuts, in personal taxation, must pass one clear test,

do they help people on low and middle incomes get by and get on?

It's as simple as that. Going green means going forward. So let the

Conservatives be in no doubt we will hold them to their promises on

the environment. APPLAUSE

Of course, there was a time when it looked like they got it. It seems a

long time ago now, doesn't it? The Tories were going through their

sort of naturalist phase. The windmills gently turning, the sun

shining in. As a PR exercise it was actually quite brilliant until, at

last year's party conference they went and ruined it all, admitting

that you can't in fact vote blue and go green. Well, of course, you

can't. To make blue go green, you have to add yellow! That's exactly

what we're doing. APPLAUSE

What a bad joke! As we plot our path from austerity to prosperity,

we need to remember that nothing we do will make a decisive difference

if we don't make the most important investment of all, in the education

and training of our young people. I can announce, from this year, that

we will provide a new catchup premium, an additional �500 for

every child who leaves primary school below the expected level in

English or maths. If you're a parent...

APPLAUSE If you're a parent whose child has

fallen behind, who fear that is they might get lost in that

daunting leap from primary to secondary school, who is worried

about all this talk about making exams tougher, let me reassure you.

We will do whatever it takes to make sure your child is not left

behind. I know there are some in the party, some in this hall even,

who faced with several more years of spending restraint would rather

turn back than press on. Break our deal with the Conservatives and

give unup on the Coalition and present yourselves to the

electorate in 2015 as a party unchanged. It's an alluring

prospect in some ways. Gone would be the difficult choices and the

hard decisions and gone too would be the abuse from right and left as

we work every day to keep this government anchored in the centre

ground. But Conference, I tell you this, the choice between the party

we were and the party we are becoming is a false one. The past

is gone. It isn't coming back. If voters want a party of opposition,

a "stop the world I want it get off party", they have plenty of options,

but we are not one of them. There is a better, more meaningful future

waiting for us. There is a better, more meaningful

future waiting for us, not as the third party, but as one of three

parties of government. APPLAUSE

Let's forget all the Westminster gossip and focus on what really

matters, not our relationship with other parties, but our relationship

with the British people. Imagine your self-, imagine your self-

standing on the doorstep in 2015 talking to one who hasn't decided

who to vote for. This is what you will be able to say. We cut taxes

for ordinary families and made sure the wealthiest pay their fair share.

Put more money in schools to give every child a chance.we did

everything possible to get people into work. Millions of new jobs and

more apprenticeships than ever before. We did the right thing by

older people too. The biggest ever cash rise in the state pension.

Most importantingly, we brought our economy back from the brink and put

it on the right path. Then ask them, are you ready to trust Labour with

your money again? Do you really think the Tories will make Britain

fairer? Because the truth is only the Liberal Democrats can be

trusted on the economy and relied upon to deliver a fairer society

too. And to help get that message out

there, I can announce today that Paddy Ashdown has agreed to front

up our campaign as Chair of the 2015 General Election team.

Before we head off on the next stage of our journey, I want you to

take one last look in that mirror to see how far we've come. I tell

you what I see, I see generations of liberals marching towards the

sound of gunfire. And, yes, and, yes, I see them going back to their

constituencies to prepare for government. It took us a while, but

we got there in the end. These are the people on whose

shoulders we stand. They never flinched, and nor should we. We owe

it to them to ceas-- seize the opportunity that they gave us, they

never had, taking on the interests, refusing to be bullied, refusing to

give up, always overturning the odds, fighting for what we believe

in because we know that nothing worthwhile can be won without a

battle, a fair, free and open society. That's the prize. So let's

Nick Clegg addressing the conference earlier this afternoon.

Straight after Mr Clegg's speech Andrew tphel interviewed the former

leader of the Liberal Democrats, Menzies Campbell on the Daily

Politics. What bit of the speech has stuck in

your mind? Well, the bit where he was keen to remind us of march to

the sound of gunfire, go back to your constituencies and prepare for

Government, David Steel saying we should recognise that but we must

not be held back by it. When he said, look, three parties now with

an interest in Government in the United Kingdom, it seemed to me

that he was putting to us a pretty serious test but equally, a pretty

serious ambition. That was the bit which leapt out to me from what we

heard. Tpwu also seemed that the fate of your party is now tied up

with the success or otherwise of the coalition's policies and it

doesn't always follow that even if they were to come right, that you

would get the credit? Well, let's put that around the other way.

Supposing they come wrong. Then you are finished! We would somehow be

successful. You are toast! And the analysis is right, of course, that

he has married together the success and progress of the party with the

success of the economy. But remember that's what the coalition

agreement was about. It's what we signed up to. It's why people like

myself agreed that this was a coalition and necessity which we

had to enter into. So what he was doing essentially was expressing,

frankly, something which has been by implication the position ever

since May of 2010. Why did he say nothing about the potential trade-

off which everyone has been talking about between the coalition's need,

particularly the Conservative desire, to make further cuts or

further freezes on benefits and your party's desire for higher

taxes on the wealthy, why did he not mention that? Well, I was

eavesdropping on Nick Robinson a moment ago when you were talking to

him and he was pointing out the fact that Liberal Democrats, not

surprisingly perhaps, had been going around this conference saying

we are not going to do this and do that, and this and that are not

things actually which are under consideration in this parliament

and remember the coalition for this parliament, success or otherwise,

will be determined by what happens in this parliament. One general

point, if I may, this wasn't an occasion for the sunny southern

uplands. It was an austere speech for an age of austerity. The

serious business afoot and we have to be serious in the way in which

we deal with it. But lying behind the speech at every stage was the

question of opportunity, not just opportunity for those who are less

well-off, but opportunity for our party and in a sense cow argue this

was a challenge to the Liberal Democrats. Here's where we are,

here's what we have to do, hold hard, get out and do it. When you

look at everything that's been demanded and I know some things

have been thrown out and there's been a lack of flesh on the bones,

but when you look at everything that's been demanded of the - by

the Lib Dems at your conference there, surely it's true to say that

you are much more likely to get what you want on taxation and

redistribution and wealth tax and so on, from a Labour Party than a

Conservative Party? Well, I thought one of the interesting parts of the

speech was when he pointed out that all talk of what one would do after

the next election really is arrogant. In this sense, the people

will decide what sort of parliament they want to have. Of course, if

the parliament is hung once again, then all parties, Labour, Liberal

Democrats, Conservative, will have an obligation to see what's

necessary to do in the national interests. I don't think anything

is served by anticipating the result of the general election and

by attempting to create positions for negotiation in advance of that

result. Wouldn't there be widespread anger if the Liberal

Democrats were to lose a large number of seats in the next

election, but still held the balance of power and still stayed

in Government? People would think that's not fair. Well, the British

electoral system is not fair F we had a proper proposal system --

proportional system. You lost that argument! What you say would not

occur. I can hear some heckling from the background, but if we had

a fair system then of course coalition is something that we

would have to treat with more than once in what, 60, 70, years. What

we seek to do here is to build on what's gone before, but realising

that our success or failure will depend upon the conditions and the

circumstances which encouraged, some might even say forced us, into

the coalition. That's the us a ter message which we have -- us a ter

message which we have heard and one that seemed to me at least to be

very well received. The mood here has been, to some extent, anxious

and if Nick Clegg had said look we have turned the corner, all is

going to be milk and honey, people like yourselves and indeed the

delegates, would have been hiding - smiling behind their hands.

Entirely realistic speech. Realism and commitment, not rhetoric.

you seem to want now to be in a position, Mr Cable alluded to this

in his speech, where had it been a party never in power, you want to

see election results which mean you will always be in power? Well, you

would hardly be surprised about that! But without winning an

election. And it's very is he seductive. I joined the Liberal

Democrats when there were six MPs. When I same an MP there were 18 of

us and the notion of Government, of the kind of influence we have

enjoyed and the kind of responsibility we have had to

undertake seemed entirely remote. As Nick Clegg has quite properly

said, a different party for different times. And if power and

responsibility goes along with that, then he won't find any objection

from any of the delegates here in Brighton. It's probably fair to say

there was more muttering about Nick Clegg's leadership in the press

than here in brighten to -- Brighton among the rank-and-file.

But how secure will he be if the Lib Dems can't pull out of their

slump in popularity? Adam Fleming took his moodbox out and tried to

find out. We are asking delegates in 2015, do

you want to be led by Nick or not? I am still for Nick. He's taken a

lot of flack, the kind that would have crushed a normal politician

like Ed or Cameron. Go on then, in there for the moment. Oh, no, it

didn't go in! Is that a metaphor? A coded signal? Let's see if I can

get it in. I missed again! Very loyal. Are you Pondering for

dramatic effect? I don't have a viable alternative in mind. I

admire Nick, I think he is very good. But I am not sure how much

good it's going to do us in 2015. Any of you see yourself being

leaders of the party in 20 years? want to be, you got to dream big...

Is this you launching a leadership challenge? No. I am in the old

enough. I wouldn't want to be leader of the party. Wye rather be

Chief Whip. Straight away not, why not? The apology was the right

thing to do, but it was two and a half years too late. I think we

have lost many councillors, including me, and we lost seats at

the last general election. We didn't gain seats. We need a fresh

start now. It's the wrong Nick! Have you seen what we are doing

today? Oh, Nick, well I have to put in... This is not who should stay

as political editor. And that would look like a political judgment!

Nick. What if he bailed out and went to work in in Brussels in 2014,

would you be upset. I think I would be yes. I would vote for Tim Farron.

Undoubtedly, he has a difficult job and he deserves three balls,

definitely. You have ruined the science bit. You are ruling

yourself out for leadership in 2015? Nick Clegg is the leader. Why

would we dump him. Now I have to take out two of the balls. I just

saw you very sheepishly voting for not, why is that? I was hoping no

one would notice. Busted! I am on telly now. I think it's going to be

like a Gordon Brown effect. Well, Nick, it's true, some of your

party members don't want to you hang around until 2015. Look at the

massive majority who do. I say stick that in your ball box,

media, that's the real story, not the story that the media want to

tell. Adam Fleming reporting. Here the

conference took another sphaoeup at coalition -- swipe at coalition

policy when they turned against proposals to strip away planning

controls on home extensions. It, frankly, beggars belief that a

surge in large extension building will do much to stimulate the local

economy. Although it may do a huge amount to ruin relationships

between neighbours and indeed further impoverish underfunded

planning departments. This is no way to make policy.

communication between central and local Government is one way, top

down only. As a result, we councillors have been forced to

implement poorly thought out policies, make ruthless cuts and

defend regulations that can't be defended. Councillors are at the

coal face of the changes Government want to implement. We are the ones

charged with delivering change and implementing policy. So it would be

nice if Government consulted with local councils for once, because we

have a huge amount of experience and expertise. Conference, relaxing

the planning laws is not a good idea. Most people who want an

extension are not put off by the need to get planning consent. If

they don't go ahead, it's because they haven't got the money to pay

for the building work and this won't fix that. The people who are

put off by the need to get planning consent are the ones who want to

build monstrosities which wouldn't be allowed. Once the rules are

relaxed, councils will not be able to protect people from overbearing,

overlooking, ugly, inappropriate buildings next door to them.

Not only did Labour leave us an appalling economic legacy, they

left us an appalling building legacy, an unworkable centralised

planning system, house-building at its lowest level since the 40s and

a staggering 421,000 fewer social houses after 13 years in office. We

can and should be proud of the role that Liberal Democrats have played

in beginning to tackle these problems. I especially, however,

understand your concerns in this motion. I am listening and I will

feed them back to Government colleagues. It is not a done deal.

There will be full consultation. I will share your views, but I hope

you will make your views known, as well. Colleagues, there are many

things in this package we can welcome. It does need to be

improved. The glass is more than half-full, not half-empty. There

was an architect and a politician. They were arguing about which was

the oldest profession in the world. The architect said, it's obvious,

it's in the Bible. Out of the chaos God created the world. Creation,

it's construction, it's a building project. That's the oldest

profession in the world. The politician said, read your bible.

It says out of the chaos, God created the world. Who do you think

created the chaos? LAUGHTER.

The planning bill that's proposed, we have to decide whether it is

chaos or construction. I am going to put to thu morning that what is

being proposed, not by Nick Clegg, but by the Conservatives, is

actually chaos. That's it for tonight and from the

Lib Dem conference for another year. Things could have gone worse for

the party hierarchy, there was no real mute mutiny against Nick Clegg

and no real uprising against the trerbaries economic plan --

Treasury's economic plan. Tpwu the Lib Dems fortunes are are tide to

the economy they can't even hope for a political recovery for

sometime yet. There's no guarantee they'll get the credit when that

recovery comes. Power's better than opposition as Nick Clegg said t

just doesn't feel like it. The conference roadshow moves on to