Clegg vow to cut Welsh MPs; LIB DEM PARTY CONFERENCE: Leader plans to cut costs in bid to be next PM.Byline: SAM LISTER THE number of MPs representing Wales would be dramatically cut under a Liberal Democrat Liberal Democrat Noun a member or supporter of the Liberal Democrats, a British centrist political party that advocates proportional representation Liberal Democrat n (BRIT) → government. Leader Nick Clegg Nicholas William Peter Clegg, known as Nick Clegg, (born 7 January 1967) is the British Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam and Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesman. Early life Nick Clegg was born in Buckinghamshire in 1967, the third of four children. last night set out his vision for reform of the Westminster system starting with slashing the cost of politics. In a speech to delegates on the final day of the party's annual conference he pledged to cut the number of politicians in London - currently 646 - by 150. Scotland has already undergone a cull cull the act of culling. Called also cast. of MPs while Wales and Northern Ireland have escaped unscathed post devolution. Mr Clegg said: We've already identified big areas where substantial long-term savings can be made - reducing the bureaucracy of Labour's centralised state, databases and agencies, cutting the cost of politics - changing our electoral system and having 150 fewer MPs." He added: Reforming tax credits so they go to the people who really need them, spending less on defence procurement. Some people have asked me why we've talked so much about identifying cuts. I know it doesn't feel comfortable some of the time but we're doing it because we know that the more we save, the safer our schools and hospitals will be. Mr Clegg went on to insist he was a serious challenger for Number 10, declaring: I want to be Prime Minister. He admitted many people do not regard his party as genuine contenders for power - but urged them to think again. His aides boldly claimed their private research suggested they could yet overtake both Labour and the Tories to win the next general election. I know there are people who agree with a lot of what we've got to say but who still don't vote Liberal Democrat, he said. You don't think we're contenders. I urge you to think again. Mr Clegg deliberately ducked coalition questions as he insisted he was going after power. But he has also steadfastly refused to rule out an alliance in the event of a hung Parliament after the next election. Aides to the leader insisted their polling suggested so many voters were undecided that the next election was wide open. The Lib Dems have 63 MPs in the current Parliament. They would need more than 300 seats if they were to hold a majority in the House of Commons House of Commons: see Parliament. . CAPTION(S): Liberal Democrat Party Noun 1. Liberal Democrat Party - a political party in Great Britain; formerly the Liberal Party; advocates reforms and improvement of the conditions of working people leader Nick Clegg delivers his keynote speech to conclude the party's annual conference in Bournemouth |
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