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38 days ago
Clegg 'could end Afghan support' Mr Clegg said he would not "condemn" UK forces to failure The Liberal Democrats could stop supporting the UK's military presence in Afghanistan unless strategy is changed, leader Nick Clegg said. He told BBC One's Politics show he wanted the mission to succeed but the present course was "almost certainly condemned to failure"". Mr Clegg also said his party's backing for the war was not "unconditional". The comments come after Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged to send another 500 troops to Afghanistan. There are currently about 9,000 UK military personnel in the country, while some 221 have been killed there since 2001. 'Heads held high' The US government is debating a request for 40,000 more troops in Afghanistan. Mr Clegg said: "Clearly no support that any political party gives for a conflict, for a war, is unconditional." He also said: ...50 days ago
Labour-Plaid coalition budget pulls the plug on Wales' economic future - Kirsty Williams The Welsh Liberal Democrats have raised serious concerns over the Budget released today by the Labour-Plaid coalition government. Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: ” This budget will pull the plug on Wales’ economic future. With a £7.2 million cut to ‘Business start-up, grow, prosper and invest ‘and savage 5% cuts to further and higher education funding, along with a £60.5m drop in capital spending on economic development, our economy will be starved of support when it needs it most. The argument for keeping public spending high during a recession is to stimulate economic activity this budget ignores that logic and slashes the very funding that will create the skill base, infrastructure and environment in which business can flourish. Wales’ young people and entrepreneurs will be damaged most by this budget. “The Welsh Liberal Democrats will not be ...51 days ago
SNP signals debate legal threat The SNP said Alex Salmond had the right to be included as a party leader The SNP may take legal action if Alex Salmond is not allowed to take part in a UK party leader TV debate ahead of the next General Election. The BBC, ITV and BSkyB jointly proposed three live debates between the Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat leaders. SNP Finance Secretary John Swinney said going to court was not being ruled out, but said it was more preferable to come to an agreement with the broadcasters. Opposition parties accused the SNP of bullying tactics. Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have welcomed a TV debate, while Gordon Brown has now said he was willing "in principle" to take part. Mr Cameron has told the BBC he wants a respected independent figure to oversee the negotiations for the TV debates. 'Depriving voters' But the SNP has threatened to seek to block the ...62 days ago
Clegg: I aim to be prime minister Clegg has shunned talk of deals with other parties in a keynote conference speech and instead told Lib Dems: "I want to be prime minister." The Lib Dem leader was bidding to reassert his authority after a bruising week - and reach out to disaffected Labour voters thinking of voting Tory. In his speech he urged voters not to sleepwalk into a Tory government and opt for "real change" instead. The Lib Dems say their private polling shows the next election is "wide open". Mr Clegg spoke without notes for just under 50 minutes - and his speech was greeted with a standing ovation from delegates in the Bournemouth centre, which included wife Miriam and former party leaders Lord Ashdown and Sir Menzies Campbell in the front row. Labour 'dying' The speech was also watched by a group of Gurkhas, who received a round of applause after Mr Clegg said he was "honoured" they could ...66 days ago
Clegg 'to slash cost of politics' Nick Clegg: "Change for real, change for good" Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has set out plans to "cut the cost of politics" by nearly £2bn. His plans include closing 10 government departments and 90 quangos, axing spin doctors and no longer paying Opposition leader's wages out of the public purse. Speaking on the second day of his party's conference, Mr Clegg said: "Central government in Whitehall is too big, too powerful and too expensive." The £2bn savings would be enough to renovate 200 schools a year, he said. Cutting the cost of politics is one of the key themes of Tory leader David Cameron who has said he would cut ministerial salaries and reduce the number of MPs, as well as slashing quangos. Labour has also vowed to squeeze Whitehall spending. Mr Clegg is using what will be his party's final conference before a general election to emphasise ...
