Clegg lines up behind Cameron cuts policy

NICK Clegg stamped the Liberal Democrat badge on Government cuts last night as he vowed to “take responsibility” for seeing through the economic plan.

After threatening to veto a key plank of the NHS reforms and facing criticism over his proposals to reform the House of Lords, Mr Clegg told the Confederation of British Industry there would be “no blinking” on the Government’s tough plan to reduce the deficit.

And with the Liberal Democrats knowing their electoral fate is reliant on the economy recovering by the next General Election, the Deputy Prime Minister made clear he would not be seeking to put the brakes on spending cuts.

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“Critics on the Left still feign outrage at the Liberal Democrats for signing up to the deficit reduction plan,” he told business leaders. “Arguing that while you’d expect a Conservative Government to reduce spending that isn’t what liberals do.

“Well we didn’t just sign up to the plan – we co-wrote it, we believe in it, and we take responsibility for seeing it through. No self-respecting progressive should surrender sound public finances, as if they are the sole preserve of the Right.”

Mr Clegg is reported to have told his MPs and peers he will oppose plans for a regulator to promote competition in the NHS, saying it should instead push NHS collaboration. The move is a sign the Lib Dems are ready to voice more criticism in Government after their mauling in the local elections.

Senior peers have warned Mr Clegg that his plans for Lords reform risk overturning conventions which make the House of Commons the most powerful part of Parliament.