Nick Clegg tells Lib Dems "Stick with us"
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In his first party conference speech as Deputy PM, Nick Clegg asked Liberal Democrat MPs to "stick with him" and serve a full five years in government.
Against a backlash from some MPs, Clegg backed controversial government spending cuts and said they were the "only choice" for improving the economy.
The Lib Dem leader also again defended taking his party into a coalition with the Tories, and told MPs that the country would never have taken the Lib Dems seriously again if they'd opted out of governing in nation interest at a time of crisis.
In a 37 minute speech, he told delegates:
"We confounded those who said that coalition government was impossible. We created a government which will govern and govern well for the next five years.
"Of course there are those who will condemn us. We are challenging years of political convention and tradition and our opponents will yell and scream about it.
"But I am so, so proud of the quiet courage and determination which you have shown through this momentous period in British political history.
"Hold our nerve and we will have changed British politics for good. Hold our nerve and we will have changed Britain for good."
He said: "We will take risks in government. But we will never lose our soul. We haven't changed our liberal values. Our status is different but our ambition is the same."
Mr Clegg praised Prime Minister David Cameron for thinking "beyond his party", adding: "In life, two heads are usually better than one."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11366009
Against a backlash from some MPs, Clegg backed controversial government spending cuts and said they were the "only choice" for improving the economy.
The Lib Dem leader also again defended taking his party into a coalition with the Tories, and told MPs that the country would never have taken the Lib Dems seriously again if they'd opted out of governing in nation interest at a time of crisis.
In a 37 minute speech, he told delegates:
"We confounded those who said that coalition government was impossible. We created a government which will govern and govern well for the next five years.
"Of course there are those who will condemn us. We are challenging years of political convention and tradition and our opponents will yell and scream about it.
"But I am so, so proud of the quiet courage and determination which you have shown through this momentous period in British political history.
"Hold our nerve and we will have changed British politics for good. Hold our nerve and we will have changed Britain for good."
He said: "We will take risks in government. But we will never lose our soul. We haven't changed our liberal values. Our status is different but our ambition is the same."
Mr Clegg praised Prime Minister David Cameron for thinking "beyond his party", adding: "In life, two heads are usually better than one."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11366009
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CarolineS
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I'm sorry, alls I heard when nick spoke was bile bile bile!
- 1 year ago
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CarolineS
