Clegg warning over cuts

ITV News correspondent Romilly Weeks watched the finale of the Liberal Democrat conference with voters in the marginal constituency of Corby in Northamptonshire.

• UK

Nick set out a clear and compelling vision for the party, going from the party of opposition that we were to the party of government that we are now.

I think people will go back with a very strong sense of what we are doing as a party.

You heard the reaction in the hall that was enthusiastic and warm. That's what we would have expected but I think it shows that the party is comfortable with the journey it's on and we should keep going in that direction.

• UK

Nick Clegg joked he was glad Boris Johnson had found "one party leader he is prepared to endorse in public" after the Mayor of London gave him his "fulsome backing" in a comment piece.

During his keynote speech at the Liberal Democrat party conference in Brighton, Mr Clegg said: "As a politician you get used to receiving criticism and praise from the strangest quarters.

"But even I was taken a little by surprise by the fulsome backing I received on the comment pages of the Daily Telegraph on Monday.

"The article praised my judgement, my policies, Miriam of course. But then I saw who it was by - a certain Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson.

"Well, still, at least he has found one party leader he is prepared to endorse in public."

Mr Johnson hailed the Liberal Democrat leader as a "natural Tory" in an article for the Daily Telegraph and insisted people should be grateful he "laid down his political life" to form the coalition.

He also gave 20 reasons why everybody should be grateful for Mr Clegg, declaring: "Never mind the badgers – save the Cleggster from extermination!"

• UK

Marcus Learoyd, a businessman from Corby in Northamptonshire, who watched Nick Clegg's speech with ITV News, said he "felt quite inspired" when the Deputy Prime Minister declared: "It was Labour who plunged us into austerity and it is we, the Liberal Democrats, who will get us out."

However teacher Nicola Mola disagreed, arguing that she didn't think "blaming Labour made him look good".

• UK

Denis Martin, a painter and decorator from Corby in Northamptonshire, who watched Nick Clegg's speech with ITV News, said the Deputy Prime Minister says he is "raising people out of poverty but everything else is going up".

He added: "It's about how we are going to get out of this. He says he is doing us a favour but he really is not doing anything to improve industry so wages rise."

• UK

Michelle Lynch, a care worker from Corby in Northamptonshire, who watched Nick Clegg's speech with ITV News, said it all "sounded very positive". However, she added: "I would just like him to back it up a bit and see it through. If he delivers on what he promises it's very positive."

• UK

Nick Clegg is the best of the three current party leaders as a speaker, but this was only a so-so effort in his terms. Quite interesting, though.

On the other hand if you're a floating voter, he has a case, and he made it quite convincingly.

The truth is I see no convincing evidence that we feel inclined to give either Dave or Ed a majority in 2015. So Clegg may be here to stay. That was essentially his case today. And he may well be right.

• UK

Setting out a bleak vision of the economic challenges faced by the country, the Deputy Prime Minister finished his keynote speech by telling activists that "nothing worthwhile can be won without a battle".

• UK