Nobody believes what Labour and Tories say – Clegg

Nick Clegg will claim today that "nobody believes a word" of what Labour and the Tories have to say in the phoney campaign for this year's general election.

The Liberal Democrat leader, launching his own party’s drive for an expected May 6 poll, will accuse counterparts Gordon Brown and David Cameron of failing to be honest with voters.

In a speech setting out the principles of the Lib Dems’ general election manifesto, he will say last week’s sparring between Labour and the Conservatives was “depressing”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The other parties managed to produce a greatest hits compilation of almost everything that has turned people off politics,” he will say.

“Airbrushed posters, meaningless slogans. All set against the spectacle of the Government turning in on itself when the country is crying out for leadership.”

Going into his first election as leader, Mr Clegg must ensure he is not squeezed out of the debate in what is expected to be an especially fierce contest between his two larger rivals.

He will say today that Labour and the Tories have failed to acknowledge that the world has changed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Bombarding people with gimmicks and promises the country can no longer afford, treating people like children, as if winning elections is simply about who can provide the best shopping list of policies to buy off voter groups one by one – nobody believes a word of it,” he will say.

“Certainly not the voters, and probably not even the politicians.”

The Lib Dem leader will acknowledge that “the politics of plenty are over” but neither do voters want “relentless prophecies of doom and despair”.

He will promise to treat voters “like grown-ups” and stick to his own convictions while trying to balance the country’s books.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The coming election will be no ordinary election,” he will say. “For once, the hype about the future of Britain being at stake is true.”

As well as dealing with the crisis in the public finances, the next Government will need to “reinvent our rotten political system” and “heal the social divisions” affecting millions.

“None of this can be achieved if we merely tinker at the edges,” he will say.

“Talk of change is cheap. Delivering big, permanent change is the real challenge.”