Liberal Democrat conference 2012, day four: as it happened These are very serious times that we are in. There was a narrative there not just about fairer taxes but, for the Party, about the transition we are making from being a party of opposition to a party of government. I think when you consider how difficult a time it is to be in Government, with lots of unpopular decisions to take because of the mess left by Labour, the Party has made the transition into Government extremely well. The wider party has been more mature about the transition in to government than might have been expected for a party that hasn't been in government for many decades. 1651 Benedict Brogan has given Nick Clegg's speech the thumbs up. 1649 In another blast from the past, yet another former Lib Dem leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, has popped up on the Daily Politics to praise Clegg's speech: Lying behind the speech at every stage was the question of opportunity. Not just the opportunity for those who are less well off, but opportunity for our party. This was a challenge to the Liberal Democrats. Here's where we are, here's what we've got to do, hold hard, get out and do it. 1647 Here's a clip of Nick Clegg warning of more belt-tightening ahead. 1643 The Metro's John Higginson reports on the appearance of some sunlit hills, after all: 1640 Friends of the Earth have welcomed Nick Clegg's speech - and urged to now "stand up to the anti-green Chancellor." 1634 Here's a clip of one of Clegg's better jokes - in praise of Telegraph columnist Boris Johnson. 1630 It seems that most commentators share my scepticisim abuot Lord Ashdown's new role. Iain Martin tweets: 1619 ITV's Tom Bradby tweets: 1615 William Hill have Clegg at 8/13 to remain in charge by the next general election. Favourite to replace him is Tim Farron on 7/4, followed by Vince Cable, 4/1, Norman Lamb, 13/2, Ed Davey, 7/1 and Danny Alexander and David Laws on 8/1. From the reaction of delegates, I'd chuck Jo Swinson in there too - she got a far warmer reception than any of the above. 1614 Labour has delivered it's official verdict on Clegg's speech. His oppo, Harriet Harman, said: Nick Clegg's speech was more pointless rhetoric. There's no reason why anyone should believe a word the Lib Dems say. The truth is that they have betrayed the people who voted for them and far from being a brake on the Tories, they are their accomplices. 1610 He's not saying it in so many words, but Don Foster seems to be suggesting that Clegg was so stark about the limitations on politicians brought about by poor economic circumstances because the party doesn't want to go down the tuition fees route again, of promising more than they can deliver. 1609 If you'd like a little bedtime reading, here's Nick Clegg's speech in full. 1608 Don Foster is asked by the BBC's Norman Smith if the DPM's downbeat mesage will go down well with voters. What Nick Clegg is doing is telling the truth. It's a very difficult situation," he says. 1605 Paul Waugh notes: 1604 Tim Shipman's verdict: 1602 Rowena Mason has written a summary of Nick Clegg's speech. 1600 More generally, it was quite a downbeat speech. Quite a few commentators pointing to the lack of sunlight upland. 1559 Labour activist Conor McGinn tweets: 1556 The biggest cheer from delegates came when Clegg announced Lord Ashdown's appointment. I can't help thinking that, popular as he undoubtedly is in the Party, in the wider country voters will just be left with the message that such is the dearth of Lib Dem talent that they are forced to go back in time to four leaders ago. 1554 So the main message was that the LIberal Democrat's USP on the doorstep at the next election will be that the party is the only one that can be trusted on the economy and on social issues. As Glen Oglaza points out, though, there's a problem with that: 1553 The speech ends with a bit of a splutter: "A fair, free and open society. That's the prize. It's within our grasp. So let's go for it! 1552 Clegg says: "I see generations of Liberals marching towards the sound of gunfire. I see them going back to constituencies to prepare for Government. It took us a while but we got there in the end. 1551 Channel 4's Cathy Newman tweets: 1550 Clegg announces that Lord Ashdown will be heading the party's election team as they go into 2015. Hardly smacks of looking forward with that not so fresh face. 1549 Like Vince Cable, Mr Clegg seems to have signed up for perpetual Coalition: The choice between the party we were, and the party we are becoming, is a false one. If voters want a party of opposition - a "stop the world I want to get off" party - they've got plenty of options, but we are not one of them. 1545 A bit of humility mixed with the jokes now: "I am proud of the resolve we Liberal Democrats have shown over the last few years. Bad election results, losing the referendum, my song not makimg it into the top 10... But we've stuck to the task. 1543 Here's the announcement which was briefed overnight - a "catchup premium" for schools to help pupils who have fallen behind in maths or English at 11. 1542 Mark Merguson of Labourlist tweets: 1538 Oooh, now Clegg's talking tough: "Let the Conservatives be in no doubt: we will hold them to their promises on the environment. Of course, there was a time when they got it. Seems a long time ago now. When the Tories were going through their naturist phase. He goes on to quip: "You can't in fact 'vote blue and go green'. To make blue go green you have to add yellow! 1536 Bloomberg's Thomas Penny tweets: 1533 Clegg says the Lib Dems won't "tether" themselves to fiscal plans for long-term drawn up by Conservatives. He says the main thrust of governing will be "national renewal." 1532 Clegg: "After the next election, all parties will have to get to grips with belt-tightening. We'll start with the richest and work our way down. 1530 Clegg is clapped as he says: "If Plan A was as rigid and dogmatic as our critics claim, I'd be demanding a Plan B and getting Danny & Vince to design it. But it isn't. 1528 ITV's Dan Hewitt tweets: 15.26 Clegg says Ed Balls lives in a "fantasy world where the money never runs out." There's no "silver bullet," says the Lib Dem leader, pointing to an "existential crisis" in the eurozone and an ongoing banking collapse. 15.22 He takes aim at the claim that the Lib Dems have 'betrayed' the country by going into Coalition and furthering a programme of austerity. Who suffers most when governments go bust? Not the bankers and hedgefund managers. It would be the poor, the infirm, those with the least to fall back on. He says the blame lies firmly with Labour, who thought it was funny to leave a note on David Laws' desk at the end of their tenure that simply read "there's no money left." "It's no joke," says Clegg. 1510 He begins by hailing the success of Britain's athletes at the Olympics. Britain remembered how it feels to win again. But more importantly, we remembered what it takes to win again. Clegg contrasts this with events in London a year ago, "when the flames climbed, not from the Olympic torch in east London, but from a furniture shop in south London." 1500 Nick Clegg is now approaching the conference hall. 1452 In the Conference hall, Tim Farron is giving out jokey prizes to Lib Dem politicos. It's not the greatest warm up for the Leader's speech. But it probably beats Clint Eastwood. 1435 Isabel Hardman tweets: 1434 A piece of housekeeping: just to confirm that the motion calling for a major house-building programme was passed this morning. 1433 Michael Deacon tweets: 1429 Crhistopher Hope reports: "Nick and Miriam Clegg have just staged their arrival for the leader's speech at the Brighton conference centre. 'Are you nervous?' yelled the man from the BBC. 'Fine,' the DPM replied, a little tersely. Here is a photo of Nick and Miriam's view from the steps, taken by me just seconds before they arrived. 1422 More from Michael Deacon, now in position in the conference hall: The doors are open and we're in. On every seat in the hall is a piece of paper that says: 'Help secure the values we share for future for future generations by leaving a donation or a share of your estate to the Liberal Democrats in your will.' That's right, folks! You can now be an active Lib Dem after death! On the same sheet of paper is a series of tick-boxes with suggested amounts to donate. A little optimistically, the first suggestion is £1,000. 1352 Michael Deacon says: Am told that Clegg's people have been ruthlessly chopping all the cliches out of his speech. Great news - should be all over in five minutes. 1349 The countdown has begun. Nick Clegg has arrived at the Brighton conference centre ahead of his speech at 3pm. He was accompanied by his wife, Miriam, who was dressed in, drum roll, a white dress. 1345 The Sun has a tasty morsel of gossip about Nick Clegg and his former adviser, Richard Reeves. 1342 The Mirror's Kevin Maguire has breaking frock news: 1319 Lord Ashdown says the Lib Dems will work with whichever party emerges after the next election: "Our masters in this matter are the British public. It's not up to us to decide, it's up to them. 1317 Sky's Glen Oglaza says party conferences are too long. Couldn't agree more - all three would be better for a severe trimming. 1315 Lord Ashdown on the World at One brushes off those poor polls: Anyone who thinks they can predict the next election from the mid-term opinion polls simply doesn't understand politics. Forget it. They simply do not matter. 1257 Farron denies wanting to become leader, and insists he is not unhappy that Vince Cable is an apparently more popular choice to succeed Nick Clegg than he is. You're talking about a race that doesn't exist. The party president also says he doesn't "hate" the Tories: "Most of them are very reasonable people ... but that doesn't mean I have to agree with them." 1252 Tim Farron on the Daily Politics admits that "it's not all rosy and wonderful" for the Lib Dems, given the loss of the AV referendum and flat-lining polls, but predicts that the party has turned the corner. 1248 Watch Nick Clegg vow to go on and on. 1245 The Spectator's Isabel Hardman is keen on Swinson: 1233 Looks like new minister Jo Swinson is the latest conference darling. She's getting a warm response to her call for the full potential of the workforce to be maximised. She also called shared parental leave, more flexibility at work for carers and more women in the workplace. They even like her little joke - she says "time is precious," and she should know because iher new BIS responsibilities mean she's responsible for time. 1230 The regional press has been briefed that Nick Clegg will advise those who want to "protest" to vote Labour rather than Lib Dem. As Paul Waugh points out, this strategy has its dangers. The latest poll shows Romney trailing by 10 points in the key swing state of Ohio: 1224 Andrew Neil has been very cruel to poor Danny, asking why he employed "Sarah Teather's script writer" to produce his poorly-received conference speech yesterday. The Chief Sec managed to laugh off the question, saying he enjoyed delivering his speech and thought it went down well with delegates, even if the sketchwriters weren't so keen. No, they really weren't. 1223 After much preamble, Alexander estimates that the Mansion Tax would raise around £2 billion. He describes this as a "significant contribution" in filling the gap. 1218 Danny Alexander on the Daily Politics fudges his answer on whether the proposal to withdraw universal allowances from better-off pensioners after the next election would apply to the middle-classes, or only the super-wealthy. Something we need to look at, he says. 1203 In the conference hall, delegates are debating a motion on affordable housing. Simon Hughes has said a decent home is a "prerequisite" in a fair society: "You can't have a fair country, you can't have a sound economy, you can't have a good society, without jobs and decent homes for all." 1157 Lord Tebbit has written a scathing blog about Lib Dem conference - claiming that MPs there have been blatantly pitching for ministerial jobs in a future Lib-Lab coalition. 1125 Michael Deacon has news about the choreography of the Clegg speech later. It appears that wife Miriam won't be doing an Ann Romney: Nick Clegg's wife Miriam, who hates this sort of thing, will not join the Lib Dem leader on stage after he makes his big speech this afternoon, the way the wives of other political leaders do. Instead Nick'll come off stage, meet Miriam at her seat, and they'll walk out together. 1124 Rowena Mason checks in again from Brighton: Spotted in the corridor - a lost-looking Lord Ashdown crying: Heeelllp. Where am I? Is this floor two? Where is floor two? Day four of the conference appears to have taken its toll. 1119 Alex Stevenson of politics.co.uk has tweeted this fantastic photo of the storm clouds gathering outside the conference hall: 1114 Ed Davey has taken to Sky to (again) deny claims that he is preparing to challenge for the leadership. Like Vince Cable, though, he has been consistent in not ruling out a run at the top job in future... I couldn't be stronger behind Nick Clegg. I've described myself as part of the Praetorian Guard behind Nick. Not to be confused with plebians. 1109 Rowena Mason tweets: 1102 Jeremy Browne was clearly up way past his bedtime last night. Appearing on Newsnight at around 11pm last night, he got very shouty as he refused to discuss "trivia." His interview begins about 30 minutes in. 1100 Rowena Mason and Robert Winnett have brought us news of the Conservative view of Nick Clegg's call for wealthy pensioners to be stripped of benefits such as free bus passes. Fair to say they're not too keen. 1053 Michael Deacon reports that the Boris Johnson fan club will not include a certain celebrity member: Britain's biggest 'celebrity politician' (in the words of Nick Clegg) has a celebrity foe. At a fringe event last night, Steve Coogan was asked for his views on Boris Johnson. 'I'd love him to be the next Tory leader,' said the Alan Partridge star. 'Not because he's affable and witty on television [Coogan said those last few words with icy disdain], but because he means nothing to people outside the M25. I think they think he's just a posh Tory.' 10.49 The Conference has voted against the Coalition's plans to relax planning rules for conservatories and extensions - that's the second rejection of Government policy in as many days. 10.17 Daily Mirror political editor Jason Beattie thinks there's something missing in Brighton: 10.08 The debate in the conference hall has moved on to planning laws. Don Foster, who is the Communities and Local Government Minister, has been working with Tory ministers on a package of reforms to the planning laws.