Revolting Lib Dems cause Clegg a headache (From The Northern Echo)

Revolting Lib Dems cause Clegg a headache

5:35pm Tuesday 22nd September 2009

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NICK Clegg was facing a damaging revolt on two fronts last night at the Liberal Democrat conference, as he prepared to warn voters not to sleepwalk into a Tory government.

The Lib Dem leader will use his keynote speech in Bournemouth today (Wed) to put forward his party as genuine "contenders" and the only one offering "real change" from a broken Gordon Brown.

But the address was in danger of being overshadowed by growing anger among Mr Clegg's senior colleagues about the party's direction on both spending and tax.

The resentment broke out into the open yesterday, as a succession of frontbenchers attacked their leader's weekend pledge to embrace "savage"

spending cuts - including ditching a pledge to scrap student fees.

Meanwhile, a furious backlash against plans for a £1bn "mansion tax" on 250,000 people in £1m-plus homes - many in crucial Lib Dem-Tory marginals in the South - saw the policy attacked as "complete codswallop".

Senior Liberal Democrats were unhappy both about confusion over how the charge would be levied and the way they were kept in the dark before it was announced.

The twin revolts reflected rising criticism that Mr Clegg has failed to use the rare media attention of conference week to put forward a clear message to wavering voters.

The leader began the week aping the Conservatives on spending cuts - only to swing to the left to clobber the rich with a new property tax.

Yesterday, work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb turned on Mr Clegg, telling him to ditch "hair-shirt" policies such as means-testing child benefit.

He told delegates: "I think we have overdone the despair. Doom and gloom does not inspire and motivate people. People want it straight, but they also want hope."

Carol Woods, the Lib Dem candidate in Durham City, slapped down Mr Clegg on tuition fees, telling him: "There should be no misunderstanding about it. It must be afforded."

Meanwhile, there were reports of Lib Dem MPs confronting treasury spokesman Vince Cable over the "mansion tax" at a rowdy meeting early yesterday.

One was said to have described the policy as "suicidal", reflecting fears that it will backfire among wealthy property owners in London and the South-East.

To add to the mood of conflict, former leader Sir Menzies Campbell used a fringe meeting to warn Mr Clegg against a coalition with the Tories, arguing a deal with Labour would be "a matter of compulsion".

Mr Clegg will attempt to restore his authority today, building on a vote by delegates who backed his 'Fresh Start for Britain' policy programme, paving the way for spending cuts.

He will tell voters beyond the conference hall: "Don't turn away, don't stay at home, don't vote Conservative just because you think it's the only option."

And he will say: "The choice at the next election is fake change from the Conservatives, or real change from the Liberal Democrats.

"At a time like this - a time of real crisis - Britain cannot afford to be taken in by David Cameron's illusion of change."

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