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13 March 2011
Last updated at 00:04 ET
By Brian Wheeler
Political reporter, BBC News, in Sheffield
Nick Clegg will claim the Lib Dems "hold the freehold to the centre ground of British politics" in a speech to the party's spring conference later.
The deputy PM will attempt to rally party activists reeling from low poll ratings and public anger over cuts.
But he will resist calls from some Lib Dems to attack the Tories more often to emphasise the party's identity.
Instead, he will focus on trumpeting the party's achievements and say it is "from the middle, for the middle".
Mr Clegg will tell delegates in Sheffield: "We're on the side of the people I call Alarm Clock Britain. The side of everyone who wants to get up and get on.
"People who, unlike the wealthy, have no choice but to work hard to make ends meet."
'Ring of steel' On Saturday, Mr Clegg was dealt a blow by party activists when they voted for a U-turn on controversial government plans to put GPs in charge of commissioning services in England.
The Lib Dem leader promised to take their concerns about the proposed legislation seriously.
Activists have also had to run the gauntlet of protesters shouting "Tory scum" outside Sheffield City Hall, where the conference is being held.
And a fringe meeting with Business Secretary Vince Cable was moved from a hotel outside the secure zone to a function room in Sheffield City Hall.
Ministers were also apparently advised to avoid leaving the "ring of steel" secure zone if possible.
Mr Clegg has already told activists to "hold your nerve" in the face of such protests, telling them that it is part of being in power - and he is not expected to comment further on the demonstrations in his keynote address.
He will instead talk up the Lib Dems' achievements in government - including a tax cut for low income workers and a "pupil premium" for children in poorer areas.
Mr Clegg was expected to use this weekend to assert the Lib Dems' independence, amid fears the party is losing its identity.
He will resist calls from some in the party to attack Conservative policy more often - but he will attempt to define where it stands.
Mr Clegg will tell delegates: "Our opponents try to divide us with their outdated labels of left and right. But we are not on the left and we are not on the right. We have our own label: Liberal.
"We are liberals and we own the freehold to the centre ground of British politics. Governing from the middle, for the middle. In government. On your side."
'Tory puppets' Speaking at a fringe event on Saturday evening, Lib Dem president Tim Farron also urged activists to "hold your nerve" and said: "We must make the coalition work."
But he also urged the party to be "spikier" in its approach to the Conservatives and to emphasise policy differences on issues such as Trident and social justice.
"The need to go out of our way to show where we differ from the Conservatives is vital.
"We are not owning enough the wins that we are having."
Professor Paul Whitely, of the Centre Forum think tank, said the party's best hope of regaining lost support was to start openly criticising the Conservatives over spending cuts.
Labour attacked the Lib Dems as "puppets in a Tory show".
Shadow justice minister Sadiq Khan said: "Nick Clegg is propping up a Tory-led government that is undermining our economy and destroying our communities.
"Any positive impact the Lib Dems are having is, in Nick Clegg's own phrase, almost invisible."
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The deputy PM will attempt to rally party activists reeling from low poll ratings and public anger over cuts.
But he will resist calls from some Lib Dems to attack the Tories more often to emphasise the party's identity.
Instead, he will focus on trumpeting the party's achievements and say it is "from the middle, for the middle".
Mr Clegg will tell delegates in Sheffield: "We're on the side of the people I call Alarm Clock Britain. The side of everyone who wants to get up and get on.
"People who, unlike the wealthy, have no choice but to work hard to make ends meet."
'Ring of steel' On Saturday, Mr Clegg was dealt a blow by party activists when they voted for a U-turn on controversial government plans to put GPs in charge of commissioning services in England.
The Lib Dem leader promised to take their concerns about the proposed legislation seriously.
Activists have also had to run the gauntlet of protesters shouting "Tory scum" outside Sheffield City Hall, where the conference is being held.
And a fringe meeting with Business Secretary Vince Cable was moved from a hotel outside the secure zone to a function room in Sheffield City Hall.
Ministers were also apparently advised to avoid leaving the "ring of steel" secure zone if possible.
Mr Clegg has already told activists to "hold your nerve" in the face of such protests, telling them that it is part of being in power - and he is not expected to comment further on the demonstrations in his keynote address.
He will instead talk up the Lib Dems' achievements in government - including a tax cut for low income workers and a "pupil premium" for children in poorer areas.
Mr Clegg was expected to use this weekend to assert the Lib Dems' independence, amid fears the party is losing its identity.
He will resist calls from some in the party to attack Conservative policy more often - but he will attempt to define where it stands.
Mr Clegg will tell delegates: "Our opponents try to divide us with their outdated labels of left and right. But we are not on the left and we are not on the right. We have our own label: Liberal.
"We are liberals and we own the freehold to the centre ground of British politics. Governing from the middle, for the middle. In government. On your side."
'Tory puppets' Speaking at a fringe event on Saturday evening, Lib Dem president Tim Farron also urged activists to "hold your nerve" and said: "We must make the coalition work."
But he also urged the party to be "spikier" in its approach to the Conservatives and to emphasise policy differences on issues such as Trident and social justice.
"The need to go out of our way to show where we differ from the Conservatives is vital.
"We are not owning enough the wins that we are having."
Professor Paul Whitely, of the Centre Forum think tank, said the party's best hope of regaining lost support was to start openly criticising the Conservatives over spending cuts.
Labour attacked the Lib Dems as "puppets in a Tory show".
Shadow justice minister Sadiq Khan said: "Nick Clegg is propping up a Tory-led government that is undermining our economy and destroying our communities.
"Any positive impact the Lib Dems are having is, in Nick Clegg's own phrase, almost invisible."
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