Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg aims to woo voters with 'fair future'

Published on Tuesday 13 April 2010 22:43

LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg will today attempt to persuade voters wary of a hung parliament to back his party, arguing that a good result for the country's third party will mean the end of Britain's "red-blue, blue-red politics".

Mr Clegg will unveil the Lib Dem manifesto for the 6 May election which, using a theme similar to the Labour version, will promise to deliver "a fair future" and "a fair deal" for all.

He will attempt to position himself as an alternative for both Conservative and Labour voters, urging them not to settle "for low politics and broken promises" and to "be more demanding".

The party released a summary of its main manifesto pledges last night, which are likely to form part of the Lib Dem demands to Labour or the Tories in the event of a hung parliament – where no one party holds a full majority.

Mr Clegg is refusing to discuss what he would do should he hold the balance of power, but it is expected he would refuse to form a formal coalition and will instead focus on the delivery of his key policies.

Among those highlighted last night include the Lib Dem plan to ensure the first 10,000 earned is tax-free.

The party claims the move will hand 700 a year to low and middle income earners.

The Lib Dems are also demanding Britain's banks be broken up, and then forced to start lending to small businesses across Britain.

And the party also wants to press for a further 2.5 billion specifically to help struggling pupils in schools.

The Lib Dems hope to present a different face on the economy to voters today by providing a blunt summary of the cuts required to reduce Britain's deficit.

Yesterday, Mr Clegg said he was planning to produce "a manifesto that you can trust, a manifesto that you can believe in".

He added: "We are not going to promise something for nothing, which is what we've had from Labour and the Conservatives. That will be one big difference between the Liberal Democrats and the other two old parties."

He said the manifesto would contain "concrete steps" instead of the "vague aspirational talk" offered by Labour and the Tories.