Clegg to restore liberties in biggest reforms since 1832

In his first major speech since becoming the coalition Government's champion of political reform, Mr Clegg will wage war on Labour's "obsessive law-making" accusing the previous government of turning ordinary people into criminals by creating thousands of "pointless" criminal offences. He also offered the public a say in which should be repealed.

The Sheffield Hallam MP will also promise to be a great revolutionary, pledging a "government unlike any other" which will herald the biggest shake-up of British democracy since the Great Reform Act of 1832, a claim which would rank it as more significant than women being given the vote.

A centrepiece of the reforms will be the referendum on replacing the current first-past-the-post voting system with the Additional Vote, where candidates are ranked in order of preference.

The coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Lib Dems also includes plans for five-year fixed-term parliaments, a wholly or mainly elected House of Lords and the power for voters to dismiss MPs found guilty of serious wrongdoing.

The speech came after Mr Clegg took his seat in the House of Commons yesterday, as John Bercow was re-elected unopposed as Speaker of the Commons.

Critics were expected to force a vote on the re-appointment as dozens of new MPs took their seats in the House for the first time since the election.

But his opponents failed to force a vote and – in the traditional manner – he was dragged to the chair of the House by supporters. Only a few voices expressed opposition to his appointment.

In today's speech, Mr Clegg will say the Government's plans represent a "fundamental resettlement of the relationship between state and citizen".

"This Government is going to be unlike any other," he will say. "This Government is going to transform our politics so the state has far less control over you, and you have far more control over the state.

"This Government is going to break up concentrations of power and hand power back to people, because that is how we build a society that is fair.

"Incremental change will not do. It is time for a wholesale, big bang approach to political reform. That's what this Government will deliver."