Nick Clegg Conference Speech

Nick Clegg promises "a new type of government"

9 March 2008

In his first conference speech as leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg demanded a shake-up of the whole political system.

Click here to read part one of the speech
Click here to read part two of the speech

A running theme of the speech was the need for a new kind of politics.

Nick Clegg said:

"The great political story of our time is the story of the vast and growing army of people who look at the two main parties and say “no thanks.” People who, like me, like you, want something different."

He said most people were tired of politics:

"Tired of a system that swings like a pendulum between two establishment parties. Tired of the same old politicians, the same old fake choices, the same old feeling that nothing ever changes.

"But this isn’t a story of indifference. People do care about issues. Climate change. Poverty. Their local school or hospital. There are marches and campaigns and petitions launched every day of the week.

"People care. They just don’t care about politicians.

"So this is the end of the line for politics-as-usual.

"If we want a political system that works for the future, we need to start again."

In addition to a change in the voting system, Nick Clegg set out three big changes that are needed:

"First, let’s clean up politics. Scandals over pay and expenses have shattered confidence.

"Thousands of voters have seen their MP exposed for corruption – and been told there’s nothing they can do about it. I want a Derek Conway Clause. So if an MP is suspended for serious misconduct there is an automatic recall ballot so people can call for a by-election.

"If your MP lets you down, you should have the power to fire them."

"Second, let’s give people the say they deserve.

"I hold town hall meetings up and down the country every couple of weeks – where I answer any question, on any topic, and anyone can come along. I say to Gordon Brown and David Cameron: do the same.

"Today I'm writing to invite them to join me at any one of the town hall meetings coming up. Not as a media stunt, but a direct conversation with people – no spin, no hand-picked audiences, no planted questions."

He said the party's new health policies, adopted this weekend, would give every citizen an even more direct say, with the power to run their local health service, by standing for election to their local health board.

"Third, let’s design a new political system for the 21st century.

"It shouldn’t be hammered out in secret, smoke-filled rooms, by the powers that be.

"I want a citizens’ jury of 100 people to sit in a Constitutional Convention with all the political parties, churches, civil society groups and more - to look across the board, and redesign the way Britain is governed.

"I wrote to David Cameron and Gordon Brown proposing such a Convention just after Christmas. Their replies were laughable.

"Dave suggested he and I gang up on Gordon. And Gordon sent me six pages of legalistic waffle."

He said he had been originally drawn to the Liberal Democrats because the party was independent and not in anyone’s pocket. He proposed measures to stop Britain becoming like America, where political influence is all about money.

"It’s still the same.

"The establishment parties will manipulate the system to get the power they want. But they’ll never change it.

"They like having power and privilege sewn up between a few chums in the Westminster bubble.

"That’s why they won’t do what’s needed and get the money out of politics. They don’t see we’re heading for the skids.

"If we don’t act, Britain will end up like America, where political influence is all about cash. That's why I want a universal £25,000 cap on donations. A real cap on spending.

"And yes, an end to big union donations, and an end to offshore finance from Belize."

Nick Clegg said he would do whatever it takes to get change in Britain:

"If it means walking out of Parliament when the big parties collude against us, I say: fine.

"If it means boycotting banquets that celebrate our relationship with dodgy regimes, like Vince Cable did, or speaking up to expose corruption like Chris Davies did, I say: so be it.

"If it means risking court, and refusing to sign up for an Identity Card, I say: bring it on.

"And you can expect more - much more - of that from me."

He returned to the anti-establishment theme later in the speech, relating it to foreign affairs too:

"Our whole international political system – and Britain’s role within it - is twisted and warped by powerful people determined to promote their own interests.

"What better example is there than Iraq? If there is one thing this illegal war has taught us, it is this - that when others choose to ride their tanks over the top of international law, our government must not roll over or join in."

He said the end of the Bush administration offered a real chance to break with the past:

"Set priorities here in Britain, not in the Pentagon.

"No more nods and winks to the abuse of human rights. No more secretive deals to host American missile systems on British soil. No more neo-con wars."

He said Britain’s response to threats must always be ethical, measured and legal:

"Under Labour, quite simply, it isn’t any of those things.

"This is a government which identifies twenty 'major countries of concern' for human rights abuses, then exports record levels of arms to nineteen of them.

"This is a government which cancels an investigation into corrupt arms sales to Saudi, then rolls out the red carpet for a state visit from its king.

"This is a Prime Minister who refuses to speak up on human rights abuses in China, then picks up his reward in the form of special trade deals.

"For too long, vested interests have triumphed over doing what’s right and it’s got to stop."

Click here to read part one of the speech
Click here to read part two of the speech
Click here to watch Ed Davey's reaction to the speech

Applicability: this item refers to the UK.