Clegg makes first major speech as leader as Storey warns party faces local election test

Mar 10 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S regeneration leader yesterday warned Liberal Democrats at their Spring Conference that the city’s party “may well face the most difficult [local] elections in an age”.

Cllr Mike Storey, also former leader of Liverpool council, said the Labour opposition were “using every trick in the book and pouring in money” to attempt to gain control of the authority in May’s election.

“But we will not let this happen, we will fight them all the way,” Cllr Storey said, speaking ahead of party leader Nick Clegg at Liverpool’s new Arena and Convention Centre. In his first major speech since becoming party leader, Mr Clegg said he would never join a Labour or Conservative government.

Traditionally, the Lib-Dems have demanded the introduction of proportional representation in any potential deal in the event of a hung parliament. But he said he wanted to build a new type of government, which includes a decentralisation of power.

He also implied the Liberal Democrats would look at cutting tax.

“If we want a better Britain, with opportunity for everyone, we’ve got to have fair taxes.

“Cutting income tax by 4p in the pound is a great start.”

Most of the conference was held in the Echo Arena, as the adjoining BT Convention Centre will not be completely finished until April.

Party president Simon Hughes praised the venue and the staff at the Crowne Plaza, where senior Liberal Democrats stayed.

“We are absolutely delighted that the dream has turned into reality and that we have been the first political party to hold our conference in this excellent new venue, especially in European Capital of Culture.”

He said the staff at the Crowne Plaza were the “most welcoming and smiling of any conference hotel I have ever been to”.

A record 2,100 people attended the party’s Spring Conference, which started on Friday and finished yesterday.

Cllr Storey was given a “special award for lifetime endeavour to local government and Liverpool” from Mr Clegg at the Crowne Plaza on Friday night.

Cllr Storey represents Wavertree – the safest ward in the city.

He has been a councillor continually since 1973, and for 24 of those was either leader or deputy leader of the group.

He said: “I did not have the intention of being a councillor for 35 years, it is a long whack.

“But when you can make a difference it becomes a habit- forming thing.”

He said he has been asked on many occasions to try to become an MP, but has always turned down the chance.

“Most people think it’s about rows and backstabbing, but actually it’s not.

“Councillors of all parties are at the heart of making a difference to people’s lives.”

davidbartlett