Bournemouth Lib Dem Conference - Wednesday Sept 23rd

5.14.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Sep 2009

Major Speech by the Lib Dem Leader, Nick Clegg MP

(For the full text, click on UK LIB DEMS in the menu on the left side of this website)

Nick Clegg spoke to a capacity audience in the large conference centre arena, and his speech was enthusiastically received by everyone. He dealt competently with all the main areas of British politics today, and proved his strength as the party leader.

Brian Cane, Chairman of Newark Lib Dems, who has attended all the Lib Dem Conferences since 1988, said: "This was the best Conference speech by a Lib Dem leader I have heard, and demonstrates that Nick Clegg is fulfilling his role magnificently. He will make an historic Prime Minister when the British Public elect him to that position. As Nick said, a Lib Dem Government is a distinct possibility now but only if people who like him, and what he stands for, all turn out and vote Lib Dem at the next General Election".

Nick's realism was demonstrated in what he said about the present economic situation - you can read this in the full text of his speech (see above) but Nick grasps the seriousness of our national position, and with Vince Cable, knows how to deal with it.

Nick said "The biggest challenge for the next government will be sorting out the public finances. It's a challenge neither exhausted Labour nor fake Conservatives are fit to take on. This year's deficit is likely to be one of the highest in Europe. We will borrow £175 billion this year alone - £5,550 EVERY SINGLE SECOND. Total national debt could hit £1.2 TRILLION next year - £20,000 for every man, woman and child"

The speech outlined the approach of a Nick Clegg government to this mind-blowing task of coping with the debt.

Most people would rather have Lib Dem Vince Cable as Chancellor Of The Exchequer dealing with this horrendous task in a Nick Clegg Government than the inexperienced

Conservative spokesmen.