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10 January 2011
Last updated at 03:47 ET
Nick Clegg has defended the work of the coalition government, saying people will take a "more rounded view" of its achievements by the next election.
The deputy prime minister, whose Liberal Democrat party has fallen in the polls, said the "idea that we are just giving up is absolute nonsense".
Mr Clegg also said there was a "clear liberal direction to this government".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that bosses of state-owned banks must be "sensitive" over bonuses.
Mr Clegg, whose party's ministers have been criticised for voting in favour of a rise university tuition fees in England, despite campaigning against this at the last election, said the policy would eventually come to be seen as more "progressive" than the old system - with former students paying less per month on debts.
Asked whether the Lib Dems had been unsuccessful in implementing their manifesto commitments since forming the coalition, he replied that they had gone into the arrangement with the Conservatives "with our eyes wide open".
He said policies such as electoral reform, raising the point at which people pay basic-rate income tax and introducing a "pupil premium" to help children from the worst-off families had been largely due to his party's efforts.
Mr Clegg added: "I think this shows a clear liberal direction to this government, on the whole."
He said: "These are the big benefits in British life which I acknowledge in a sense don't present themselves immediately to people.
"Over the course of this parliament I believe people will take a more rounded view of what this government is doing."
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The deputy prime minister, whose Liberal Democrat party has fallen in the polls, said the "idea that we are just giving up is absolute nonsense".
Mr Clegg also said there was a "clear liberal direction to this government".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that bosses of state-owned banks must be "sensitive" over bonuses.
Mr Clegg, whose party's ministers have been criticised for voting in favour of a rise university tuition fees in England, despite campaigning against this at the last election, said the policy would eventually come to be seen as more "progressive" than the old system - with former students paying less per month on debts.
Asked whether the Lib Dems had been unsuccessful in implementing their manifesto commitments since forming the coalition, he replied that they had gone into the arrangement with the Conservatives "with our eyes wide open".
He said policies such as electoral reform, raising the point at which people pay basic-rate income tax and introducing a "pupil premium" to help children from the worst-off families had been largely due to his party's efforts.
Mr Clegg added: "I think this shows a clear liberal direction to this government, on the whole."
He said: "These are the big benefits in British life which I acknowledge in a sense don't present themselves immediately to people.
"Over the course of this parliament I believe people will take a more rounded view of what this government is doing."
Webmaster Forum | SEO Forum | Coding Forum | Graphics Forum</b>