NICK CLEGG was warned he was turning into a "mini-me Conservative", as a Liverpool councillor led criticism of Liberal Democrat involvement in draconian spending cuts.

Paula Keaveney, who represents Cressington ward, attacked Lib-Dem ministers in the coalition government for announcing painful cuts with "so much relish", as anxiety broke out on the conference floor at the Echo Arena.

She told her party's leadership that she felt "very awkward about the coalition, very difficult about working with the Conservatives".

And she added: "There are ways of delivering a message. It's very hard to be distinctive if you talk like a 'mini-me Conservative'. That's not what we are in politics to do."

During a prickly question-and-answer session, a second activist warned Mr Clegg he had abandoned the party's traditional "commitment to the poor", asking: "Can I still trust you with my party?"

Linda Jack, a former Parliamentary candidate, said: "So many of the cuts are going to disproportionately affect the poorest, particularly young people. I see nothing for young people at all."

In reply, Mr Clegg – who announced a £900m crackdown on tax evasion and a £70m aid boost for flood-stricken Pakistan yesterday – pointed to Lib Dem-friendly policies on tax, pensions and the levy on the banks.