Liberal Democrat Leader Calls for a Fair Deal for All

5.07.00pm GMT Mon 31st Dec 2007

The leader of the Liberal Democrat party, Nick Clegg has highlighted the issues of inequality, tax credits and identity cards in his New Year's address.

Pointing out the farcical administration of the tax credit scheme, he called for reform of the tax credit system so that families are no longer forced into crippling

repayments due to the incompetence of the government's administration.

Focusing on inequality, he said that the inequality which leads to the poorest dying on average 13 years before the most wealthy must be addressed, as must the failure rates of the poorest pupils in our schools and the vulnerability to crime of the poorest in our society.

He also reinforced the commitment of the Liberal Democrats to stopping the "expensive, invasive and unnecessary identity cards scheme".

Liberal Democrat Leader : Nick Clegg

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Philip Nathan welcomed the speech from Nick Clegg. He said that these were key issues for Liberal Democrats to deal with at both the local and national level.