Clegg: I have a real chance of becoming next prime minister

Published on Wednesday 23 September 2009 22:00

LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg insisted he has a credible chance of becoming the next prime minister, as he tried to reassert his authority at the fractious party conference.

In an appeal to disillusioned voters, Mr Clegg insisted the election was "wide open" as he set out how he had imagined a better society under his premiership.

He encouraged voters who were disgruntled with Labour – whom he said had "betrayed a generation" – but not fooled by the "fake change" offered by the Conservatives to vote for him.

"I know there are people who agree with a lot of what we've got to say, but who still don't vote Liberal Democrat," he said. "You don't think we're contenders. I urge you to think again."

But his claim to having a chance of becoming prime minister was laughed off by Liam Byrne, Chief Secretary to the Treasury. "Nick Clegg can fantasise about becoming prime minister, but his party is in disarray over his confused back-of-an-envelope tax policies. His call for 'savage cuts' … would put Britain's recovery at risk," he said.

Read further analysis on this story by Gerri Peev here

The Lib Dems have just 63 seats in the 646-seat Commons and Mr Clegg's bold claim also threatened to become an echo of the infamous command made by Liberal leader David Steel to conference in 1981 to "go back to your constituencies and prepare for government".

Mr Clegg did not make any references to coalition deals with the two major parties, which is the only realistic chance that the Lib Dems could hold seats in government after the next election.

Aides rejected suggestions that his pitch to become prime minister was laughable, insisting research showed that many voters were undecided and that Mr Clegg could "absolutely" be installed at No 10 next spring.

In a polished, 48-minute performance and speaking without notes, Mr Clegg said: "I want to be prime minister because I have spent half a lifetime imagining a better society and I want to spend the next half making it happen."

He told delegates the Lib Dems were within reach of winning the election: "We are the only party that offers real change. Labour is dying on its feet; we are replacing them as the dominant force of progressive politics. We are the alternative to a hollow Conservative Party that offers just an illusion of change."

Using the phrase "progressive austerity", Mr Clegg said the party wanted to be honest with voters about the need for cuts and fairer taxes. However, he avoided mentioning his threatened U-turn on scrapping tuition fees, an announcement that was met with protest by activists.

In an appeal to younger voters, Mr Clegg apologised on behalf of his generation, saying: "I am sorry that you will spend your working lives burdened by the debts of a previous generation."

The Lib Dems would offer any young person unemployed for more than 90 days free training or paid work. The money for this would come from cancelling Labour's VAT cut to fund more university and training places as well as creating paid internships.

Mr Clegg reminded his audience that he had been at the forefront of the campaign to give Gurkhas citizenship rights in the UK, and turned to applaud the soldiers who had been given ringside seats for his speech.

He also signalled a hardening of the Lib Dem's position on Afghanistan. Time was running out, he said, and unless the Prime Minister changed course, the UK should withdraw.

Former party leader Sir Menzies Campbell said it was a confident performance. "His message that we are all in this together was an important reminder to dissidents that they have a responsibility to the party."

Science spokesman Dr Evan Harris, who had earlier in the week taken a swipe at Mr Clegg by suggesting he was not yet a great leader, said the speech had been "fine" in style and substance.