Nick Clegg: I wish you all a very happy New Year

This time last year I spoke about how the most important job for Liberal Democrats was dealing with the economic problems we inherited. 12 months on, that task remains the number one priority for our party and the Coalition.

We have had to make some very difficult decisions, but they've been the right ones for the long term good of our country.

But that economic rescue mission is not over yet. That's why, thanks to the Liberal Democrats, the Coalition has been helping people get through these difficult times with measures to make life fairer and easier.

2011 was the year we lifted nearly a million low paid workers out of paying income tax altogether and cut taxes for 23m people - because I believe putting money back into peoples pockets makes all the difference.

It was the year more than a million children got a fairer start in life, with extra support at school through our Pupil Premium and free early years education for toddlers - because I believe that helping the youngest take their first steps in life makes all the difference.

It was the year we guaranteed pensioners a decent increase in their pension - because I believe dignity in retirement makes all the difference.

Throughout, we have taken big long-term decisions that will change the way our economy works for the better - rebalancing it away from the City of London towards stronger, more sustainable growth.

And next year we will do more. The world's first Green Investment Bank putting millions into green jobs and growth; our youth contract to get every young person out of work earning or learning; more apprenticeships than this country has ever had before; and we will take further steps to make our tax system fairer too.

What we're doing as a party, and as a Coalition, it's not easy, but it's right. We are putting the interests of the country first, and we have taken the first steps towards building a fairer, greener and more liberal country.

The next year will be one that poses many great challenges for everyone in Britain, but I know we must continue to do what's right for our country.

And with that, I wish you all a very happy New Year.

Nick Clegg MP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

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[reeceyj95]

The Lib Dems were foiled by the Sun at the last election. A YouGov poll proved that if support for the party was widely known and not seen as a wasted vote then the Lib Dems could have gained a majority. Unfortunately, this was one YouGov poll, YouGov doing all its polls in partnership with The Sun, The Sun decided not to publish. This angers me so much that the Party who are in my opinion a good immigration policy away from being the potentially most successful government in history got foiled!

[b00353]

sell out

[TOBERT001]

No one earning £ 10,400 a year or less should pay any tax at all.

Come on, Clegg get it done and you will get some respect.

[SuperPaulKruger]

@h8bigbro Anything but Labour mate, anything but Labour! Actually Nick has revived himself recently by his support of the raised tax allowance for low earners. Finally some decent policy emerging from the Lib Dem side of the coalition. Prob still voting tory though, they've done a few good things aside from the tuition fees disaster, which I agree was probably mainly tory driven policy, though they're more likely to abolish them altogether......EVENTUALLY! peace.

[h8bigbro]

@SuperPaulKruger I'm sorry? You're disappointed in Nick Clegg (over tuition fees) so you'll be voting Tory next time? I hope you realise the Tories supported a hike in fees-- in fact that is the reason they were raised.

[kev9089798767]

It's amazing how the unintelligent and thoughtless masses condemn Clegg. Things aren't easy for him. Due to the unfair electoral system, his party do not have the power level in government that they deserve. They are working hard to make a difference in government and do what they do for the people they represent. They aren't going to win every battle with the Tories when they only have 57 seats and 5 cabinet ministers.

[Braithwaite1922]

Fuck off Clegg, get yer pension, wipe yer nose off from the shite in the trough, and get paintin, yer cont, coz thats wot yer are

[randomperson24ish]

@QPWimblik i love you.

[Paralyzer]

clegg is slang for shit or crap....

[Ophantes]

He's just showing what the Libdems can do with labour in the future.