Nick Clegg: Chance for a genuine new direction

The British people "are ready for change" - and the Liberal Democrats are the only party that can make it happen, their leader Nick Clegg claims.

He says there is "insurrection in the air" following rows over the 10p tax rate, the local elections and the Crewe & Nantwich by-election.

And while David Cameron "charms the birds out of the trees", Gordon Brown's government is "circling the drain".

He says only the Lib Dems say how they would deliver "a more liberal Britain".

In an article for the Daily Telegraph, Mr Clegg says "no-one can doubt the mood of the country anymore".

The Cameroons have started to believe their own hype: insisting on their right to enter Number 10 without working out what they'd do once the door closed behind them Nick Clegg

"There is insurrection in the air - the British people are ready for change and they don't believe Labour can deliver it," he said.

The Conservatives have "painted an image of a brave new world, where the sun shines and David Cameron charms the birds out of the trees", he said.

"The Cameroons have started to believe their own hype: insisting on their right to enter Number 10 without working out what they'd do once the door closed behind them.

"Their strategy is simple enough: why bother choosing policies when the government is shooting itself in the foot?"

He mocked Mr Cameron's "crocodile tears" for the families affected by the abolition of the 10p tax rate - while calling for a cut in inheritance tax "for the richest 6% of people".

"He tells us to 'go green', but won't commit to specific policies to help us," he said.

Tax cut commitment

"He has preached about personal privacy, but wants to abolish Data Protection laws. Like Labour, he promises to decentralise, but steers clear of explaining how or when.

"Currently this incoherence is the Tory party's greatest strength: they can't be pinned to anything people don't like. But it's no serious programme for government.

"It offers nothing to people concerned about knife crime, or worried about higher fuel bills.

"The public has been promised the moon on a stick by Mr Cameron. Soon they will start to ask how he'll get it for them - and a gleaming smile won't be enough."

Mr Clegg contrasted this attitude to the Lib Dems, who were "committed" to cutting taxes for low and middle income families, fairer pensions for women, extra funding for children with special needs, a patient guarantee and protecting the environment.

With the Brown government circling the drain, there is the chance for a genuine new direction for the country Nick Clegg

"We'll make polluters pay, so we can cut taxes for ordinary families, charge a toll for lorry road journeys, so we can invest in a high-speed rail network, put fair charges on air travel and support local recycling and green energy."

He said people "deserve to know what a party will do if it wins - without detail the public has no sense of values of a politician, still less any evidence that they'll stand by them".

"With the Brown government circling the drain, there is the chance for a genuine new direction for the country," he said.

Mr Clegg's article comes as his party steps up its campaigning in Henley ahead of a by-election which is expected to be prompted by Tory MP Boris Johnson stepping down to concentrate on being London mayor.

The party, which came second in Henley at the last election, will be hoping to do better than they did in Crewe and Nantwich last week, where the Conservatives gained the seat from Labour, leaving the Lib Dems stuck in third place.

Mr Clegg will visit on Wednesday to campaign with Ms Shenton

The Liberal Democrats have said they can win the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, insisting the race is "much tighter" than polls suggest.

A spokesman for Lib Dem candidate Elizabeth Shenton predicted a number of "hardcore" Labour voters would defect to the party on Thursday.

Leader Nick Clegg is visiting the constituency on Wednesday to campaign.

Recent opinion polls have put the Conservatives in the lead, with Labour in second place and the Lib Dems third.

'Positive campaign'

But Ms Shenton's spokesman said the party's own "on-the-ground" data suggested it was "within a few percentage points" of winning.

He added: "The Labour Party is no longer in the race... we have used traditional campaigning techniques - going out and meeting people.

"Elizabeth is very personable and we are trying to run a positive campaign."

Labour's portrayal of Conservative candidate Edward Timpson as a "Tory toff" has been criticised as a "class-war" tactic to hold the seat, vacant since the death of long-serving MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month.

But her daughter, the Labour candidate Tamsin Dunwoody, has defended the slogan as "good visual imagery".

The latest poll, for the Independent newspaper, puts the Tories on 48%, Labour on 35% and the Lib Dems on 12%.

The survey company ComRes interviewed 1,001 people in the constituency from 15 to 18 May.

Ms Shenton's spokesman said: "What I think will happen is that a considerable hardcore Labour vote that hasn't already gone across to us will do, when they realise that to do otherwise could give Crewe and Nantwich a Tory MP for the first time in the seat's history."

There are 10 candidates for the by-election, with polling stations open from 0700 BST until 2200 BST on Thursday. The result is expected by about 0230 BST on Friday.

Mr Clegg has concerns over army equipment and pay for soldiers

Nick Clegg says he is concerned that the British army in Afghanistan has "old kit" and suffers from some equipment shortages.

The Lib Dem leader is on his first visit to the country.

He also said there were "big issues" over soldiers' pay.

Earlier in his trip, Mr Clegg said failure in Afghanistan would be "devastating" and the Nato mission was "hanging in the balance".

Mr Clegg spent two days visiting British troops and holding talks with Afghan leaders.

"I've seen some of the kit they've had to deal with," he said.

"Some of it's great, but frankly some of it's old ... some of the vehicles don't have enough spare parts, some of it's very hot and... there are big issues surrounding whether we're paying, particularly some of the junior starting soldiers, enough.

The consequences of failure would be devastating Nick Clegg Lib Dem leader

"I think there's been some improvements about some long-standing issues surrounding accommodation for soldiers' families back home, but we need to go further still.

"I think we owe all the men and women here a huge debt of gratitude because we sometimes forget that the cost of failure would be catastrophic for Britain as a whole."

Mr Clegg had warned earlier in his visit that without lasting peace and stability Afghanistan could revert to a "pariah state".

'Greater unity'

"The consequences of failure would be devastating," he said.

"Afghanistan is the most important conflict of our generation," he said.

"If we fail to secure lasting peace and stability, Afghanistan will revert to a pariah state, feeding the international drugs trade and offering a haven for terrorism that will threaten global security for the conceivable future.

"Yet the success of our mission in Afghanistan hangs in the balance. International efforts have not yet delivered the stability and security that the people of Afghanistan deserve."

Mr Clegg said the international community needed to demonstrate "greater unity in the way aid and reconstruction support is provided".

There were also crucial questions over how many UK troops should be on the ground, how to tackle the opium trade, and how to engage with neighbouring states, he added.

Tens of thousands of Cardiff City supporters are preparing to watch the FA Cup final.

Around 25,000 City fans will be at Wembley for the match against Portsmouth, their club's biggest game for 81 years.

And up to 7,000 City supporters will watch the game on a big screen erected in Cardiff Bay.

The Bluebirds have not played in an FA Cup final since they lifted the trophy in 1927 with a 1-0 win over Arsenal.

Katherine Jenkins will sing the Welsh national anthem before the game, which is expected to attract a global television audience of 400m people.

Fans will be heading to the game by air, rail and road, with Cardiff City Supporters' Club alone taking 60 coaches to the game.

More than 50 Cardiff fans from Bluebirds Down Under, a group of City fans in Australia, are flying over for the final.

Selected BBC Wales coverage FA Cup Morning of the Match, Radio Wales, 0700 FA Cup Phone-In, Radio Wales, 0905 FA Cup Build-Up, Radio Wales, 1200 Match of the Day Live, BBC One Wales, 1240 Radio Wales Sportstime, Radio Wales, 1400

Vince Alm, Cardiff City Supporters' Club spokesperson, said it was a huge day for the city of Cardiff, not just the football team.

"It's huge, not only for Cardiff City but the people of Cardiff and Wales," he said.

"It raises the profile of the football club and the whole city."

Those supporters not lucky enough to get tickets for Wembley can see the game on a big screen at Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff Bay.

Admission to the event is free and the screen will be showing all the match build-up, counting down to the kick-off at 1500 BST.

The official Bluebirds shop in the centre of city has been packed for the past three weeks with supporters almost buying the store out of stock.

The shop is run and stocked by City's kit makers Joma who say sales of all their merchandise have risen by up to 40% since the team reached the final.

It's best wishes from me and, I'm sure, everyone in Wales to Cardiff City First Minister Rhodri Morgan

Joma has almost sold out of the 5000 limited edition Cup final shirts it had made for the final and expects to sell the last ones before the game kicks off.

National sales manager Mark Godley said: "We're not sold out yet but we're getting fairly close to it.

"If Cardiff win the final then I think we will be back onto the shirt makers at one minute past five o'clock in order to get some more in."

Lord Mayor of Cardiff, cllr Gill Bird, said: "This is a huge occasion for the city, and if fans weren't lucky enough to get their hands on tickets for Wembley, then surely this is the next best thing.

"I'm sure the atmosphere will be electric with everyone getting behind Cardiff City to lift the cup."

And there have been many good luck messages to the team from the great and the good.

Great Game

First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: "It's best wishes from me and, I'm sure, everyone in Wales to Cardiff City as they prepare to take on Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.

"I'm confident they can really represent the very best in Welsh football and Welsh sport by taking on and beating Portsmouth on Saturday.

"Good luck to the boys."

Even Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a Raith Rovers fan, has wished Cardiff City and Portsmouth, all the best for the final.

Mr Brown said he thought it was going to be a great game and he was looking forward to watching it.

Cardiff City players will parade through the Welsh capital in an open-top bus on Sunday if they win the cup.

Even if they lose, an event will be held for fans to see the team.

Mr Clegg urged a new relationship between government and the City

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has pledged to tackle "bad practice" in the City of London as he outlined plans for a better system of regulation.

He said he wanted his to be the "party that the City can trust" but said "more intelligent" regulation was needed to prevent "boom and bust excesses".

His planned reforms include some to rein in the bonus culture and pay.

He also backs bringing house prices within the official inflation index and making bank charge more transparent.

Outlining his New Deal for the finance industry, Mr Clegg said excessive pay and bonuses could lead to a "culture of greed and gambling".

'Binge lending'

He said the increasing wealth of the City of London had produced "few visible positive spillovers" for neighbouring areas and little benefit to "provincial Britain".

He said: "The credit crunch has exposed a major contradiction within UK banking - an industry which simultaneously presents itself as fiercely competitive and entrepreneurial but then runs to the government to be bailed out in times of difficulty."

He said the Thatcher government's "big bang" reforms had created innovation, but had also led to a boom-bust cycle of "binge lending", followed by negative equity and repossessions.

Mr Clegg said the City of London was "one of the most dynamic and creative parts of the British economy" but was "by no means perfect".

"For too long, the government has refused to stand up to or consult with the City when there are problems," he said.

"I want the Liberal Democrats to be the party that the City can trust, but also the party that will take on injustices and bad practice, for the benefit of the country and the economy as a whole."

Mr Clegg says the international community can not "stand idly by"

Aid should be parachuted into Burma within the next two or three days - whether the authorities there like it or not, says Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg.

Burma's military-run government is refusing to let most aid workers over the border of the cyclone-hit state.

Tim Costello, of World Vision charity, said staff had "literally overflowed in tears" for not being allowed to help.

But International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said acting without permission would be "incendiary".

'United front'

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also condemned the actions of the Burmese government and said he was "determined" that aid would get through.

I think the time is now coming, drawing very close to taking the most drastic step of all, which is dropping aid directly into Burma Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg 'No British casualties' in Burma

He said: "There are children going without food, there are people without shelter.

"It is utterly unacceptable that when international aid is offered, the regime will try to prevent that getting in."

Mr Alexander told BBC 2's Newsnight on Thursday the "best way forward" was not unilateral action but an international "united front" to win access for aid agencies.

"Our responsibility is to make sure that our sole focus is getting the aid to the people who desperately need it."

'Important step'

He said carrying out forced air-drops of supplies would be the wrong action to take.

But Mr Clegg said the United Nations had a right to step in when governments failed to protect their own people.

The Lib Dem leader told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "I think the time is now coming, drawing very close to taking the most drastic step of all, which is dropping aid directly into Burma, irrespective of the wishes of the Burmese regime.

"This, of course, in practical terms is not an ideal solution because you're dropping aid from the air, it doesn't guarantee it gets to the people who need it.

"But I think it would be an important step to show that the international community is simply not going to stand idly by."

The World Food Programme (WFP) has halted aid shipments to Burma after the contents of its first delivery were impounded on arrival in the military-ruled country.

The UN body says the Burmese government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, which has killed tens of thousands.

The WFP said it had no choice but to halt aid until the matter was resolved.

Speaking at a press conference in London, representatives from the Red Cross, Save the Children and medical relief agency, Merlin, said access was severely restricted, but some aid was getting through.

A Merlin spokeswoman said they had been able to provide some medical supplies, and that a boat was ready to provide hospital facilities, but that there was now great danger from malaria, dengue fever and snake bites.

Save the Children said they were reaching a extra 10,000 people each day with a basic life saving response kit of bottled water, food, plastic sheeting and blankets.

'Flowing funds'

The Red Cross said they were working through several thousand trained volunteers in the country and had been able to distribute about 2,000 family kits, which include items such as cooking pots and blankets.

Jasmine Whitbread, of charity Save the Children, said despite the obstructions, it was imperative people do not stop their donations for fear the funds and supplies will fall into the wrong hands.

She said: "Our concern is that people will start to doubt whether their donations are really getting there and making a difference.

"Our message is that we are reaching these people and we really desperately need the funds to continue flowing."

As of 1900 BST on Friday, donations from the UK had reached some £4m, said the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which coordinates national fund raising at times of overseas emergency.

Lord Holme advised Liberal and Lib Dem leaders for almost 30 years

Senior Liberal Democrat Lord Holme has died at the age of 71 after a long illness, it has been announced.

The peer was the party's Northern Ireland spokesman in the 1990s and a close advisor to Sir Menzies Campbell, Paddy Ashdown and David Steel.

A family spokesman said: "Lord Holme of Cheltenham died yesterday at his home in Lurgashall, West Sussex, after a long battle with cancer."

He leaves his wife, Lady Holme, two sons, two daughters and grandchildren.

His family said the funeral will be held in the village church and a memorial service will take place in London at a later date.

'Liberal to the core'

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said Lord Holme had made a "huge contribution" to the party over many decades would be "greatly missed".

"His wisdom, kindness and advice were a great source of support for every party leader during that time," he said.

He was widely respected and shaped the course of British politics as no other non-elected Liberal has achieved Lord Ashdown, former Lib Dem leader

Lord Richard Holme was chairman of the 1997 Lib Dem election campaign, was made a privy councillor in 2000 and served as chairman of the Lords Constitution Committee.

He also became chairman of TV watchdog, the Broadcasting Standards Commission in 1999, but resigned after little more than a year over newspaper revelations about his private life.

Former party leaders have also been paying tribute to Lord Holme's contribution.

Lord Ashdown described him as "a man of outstanding talent, who was liberal to the core".

"He was widely respected and shaped the course of British politics as no other non-elected Liberal has achieved."

Sir Menzies described him as "one of the most perceptive analysts of politics in this country".

He said Lord Holme had advised Liberal and Liberal Democrat leaders for the best part of 30 years and his advice was "almost always right".

The Electoral Commission says local polls are more complex to organise

Polling stations have opened for elections to councils across Wales.

People can vote for the 22 county councils and many town and community councils from 0700 BST until 2200 BST.

About two million people are eligible to vote in elections which will help to decide how the larger councils spend nearly £20bn over the next four years.

The results will also be closely watched as a verdict on the performance of the main political parties, both at Westminster and in the Welsh assembly.

The new and re-elected councillors will take charge of key services such as schools, social services, recycling and refuse collection, leisure centres and planning.

Thousands of would-be county councillors are standing for more than 1,200 seats.

It's very straightforward but staff will explain what needs to be done Kay Jenkins, Electoral Commission

Most councils will start counting when polls close on Thursday, but others will leave it until Friday morning. That means that a full picture will not emerge until Friday afternoon.

Electoral Commission Wales head Kay Jenkins said local elections were the most complex to run because there were so many candidates and so many elections taking place at the same time.

She said people with postal votes who had not managed to send them off could still have their say on the day.

"If they've applied for a postal vote, they can't actually vote in person at a polling station," she said.

WHO RUNS WELSH COUNCILS Blaenau Gwent: Labour Bridgend: Liberal Democrat / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / Independent Caerphilly: Labour Cardiff: Liberal Democrat Carmarthen: Labour / Independent Ceredigion: Independent / Liberal Democrat / Labour Conwy: Independent / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / Liberal Democrat Denbighshire: Independent / Conservative / Plaid Cymru Flintshire: Labour Gwynedd: Plaid Cymru Merthyr: Labour / Independent Monmouth: Conservative Neath Port Talbot: Labour Newport: Labour Pembrokeshire: Independent Powys: Independent Rhondda Cynon Taf: Labour Swansea: Liberal Democrat / Independent Torfaen: Labour Vale of Glamorgan: Labour / Plaid Cymru / Independent Wrexham: Liberal Democrat-led Board Ynys Mon: Anglesey Forward / Radical Independents

She advised anyone with a postal vote who had not yet sent it in to seal it and take it to the polling station.

Ms Jenkins also advised anyone who had applied for a postal vote and not received one to contact their local authority during the day for a replacement ballot pack, although they might have to go to the council offices to pick it up.

She said anyone planning to vote at their local polling station could do so without their polling card because they would simply be asked for their name and address.

Most local authorities have more councillors than they have electoral wards, because wards can be represented by as many as five councillors.

In a multi-member ward electing four councillors, for example, people would be able to cast four votes - or fewer, if they choose.

Ms Jenkins advised people to read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully to avoid confusion.

"If they feel confused at all, they should ask the polling station staff who will be able to tell them exactly how many candidates to vote for," she said.

"Some people, as well, will have two ballot papers because they may also be able to vote in the community council election.

"It's very straightforward, but staff will explain what needs to be done and there are instructions on the wall and the ballot paper."

Some authorities, such as Cardiff, are publishing the results ward-by-ward online.

Web: The BBC Wales News website - bbc.co.uk/walesnews - will provide continually updated coverage throughout Thursday and on Friday.

Radio: Radio Wales and Radio Cymru: Results programmes from 0030 to 0300 BST on Friday. Also on Radio 5 Live from 2200 to 0500 BST and Radio Four from 0000 to 0300 BST.

TV: Betsan Powys and Adrian Masters will provide regular updates from Wales on Election Night 2008 from 0005 to 0600 BST on BBC One Wales and the BBC News channel.