THE Liberal Democrats are the only alternative to a Labour Government in its "death throes" and Conservative "cowboys", party leader Nick Clegg declared last night.
He kicked off his first annual conference as leader with a stinging assault on the major parties. He faces a fight in Bournemouth this week to win the support of left-leaning activists for a pledge to slash public spending by £20bn and for
'big' tax cuts.
But he will tell them his "blueprint for a freer, fairer Britain" is the only way to show the Lib Dems understand voters' concerns during the present economic slowdown.
Talking to reporters as another Labour MP called for Prime Minister Gordon Brown to face a challenge, Clegg said: "We are watching the death throes of the Labour Party.
"I do not think there is any way back for them. They no longer stand for anything that the vast majority of British people need or want."
Addressing a rally of party members, he extended his attack to David Cameron's Tory opposition, saying: "Here's a man who'll speak fondly of 'hardworking families', but has no actual plans to help them.
"A man who – with recession looming – puts millionaires first. A man who hopes that soundbites can fix the economy.
"The best (shadow chancellor] George Osborne can offer is that Gordon has failed to 'save for a rainy day'. Apparently George would 'fix the roof while the sun is shining'. What is this? Just William? The Secret Seven?
"If you want real solutions for Britain's economy are you really going to call this bunch of Conservative Cowboys? There's only one man who can be trusted with our economic future and it's Vince Cable."
The nod to Cable, the economics spokesman who proved a big hit as stand-in leader after last year's ousting of Sir Menzies Campbell, comes amid some complaints that Clegg has failed to make enough of a mark since beating Chris Huhne for the top job in December.
At the rally, Clegg accused the Government of helping encourage the emergence of extremism in the UK by failing to allow people more control over their everyday lives.
"It keeps the public at arm's length with layers of confusing, impersonal and inefficient bureaucracy," he said. "This sense of helplessness … breeds anger, cynicism and fear. It creates hopelessness. Frustration. It is fertile breeding ground for extremism."
He appealed to the party to show it could "rock the establishment" and return power over education, health and police services to communities and individuals.
Clegg insisted opinion polls showed the party was more popular than a year ago and dismissed suggestions it was being "seriously squeezed" by a renewed focus on the battle between the major parties.
"There is a massive gap in British politics which we are seeking to fill," he said.
Sir Menzies Campbell saw off major party dissent two years ago to secure a commitment to a 4p cut in basic income tax funded by a big hike in green taxes and a crackdown on loopholes for the super-rich. Clegg wants to take the party a significant step further – seeking £20bn of savings, from areas such as the NHS IT scheme, the Eurofighter project, ID cards and Government advertising.
