Reacting to the end of British combat operations in Iraq, and the handover of control in Basra to US forces, Nick Clegg said, “We must never forget the enormous sacrifices that our troops made in this conflict.”

Nick went on to say, “their bravery and professionalism have been matched only by the incompetence of their political masters.“

However the Liberal Democrat Leader went on to criticise the policy which lead to war, “today marks the end of a dark chapter in British foreign policy. The decision to go to war on a false pretext was the most disastrous foreign policy decision since Suez.”

Concluding Mr Clegg said, “The winding down of operations in Iraq should hopefully bring some relief to our overstretched Armed Forces. But the terrible toll taken by this ill-judged conflict will continue to cast a long shadow over our ability to carry out the mission in Afghanistan.“

Click here to read other stories about our opposition to and protest against the Iraq war >>

Commenting on today’s figures showing police use of anti-terror stop and search powers trebled last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: “These statistics will only fuel the fear that anti-terror powers are being overused by the police and for reasons other than they were intended for.”

“When only one in nearly two thousand stop and searches under the Terrorism Act results in an arrest for a terror offence, questions must be asked about how effectively these powers are being used.

“There is a real risk that indiscriminate or excessive use of stop and search may alienate the communities we rely most on for intelligence, which is a far more crucial tool in the fight against terrorism.”

Commenting on today’s Government statement admitting that most overseas gambling firms are not contributing to the economy, the costs of regulation or problem gambling services, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: “Ministers have finally realised that the rules they created allowed overseas gambling firms to make huge profits without giving anything back in return.”

“Many online gambling sites have been allowed to get away without paying for the damage they cause for too long.

“Gambling companies should only be allowed to advertise in this country if they can prove they have effective age verification systems in place, pay for the cost of regulation and are prepared to contribute to gambling addiction services.”

Commenting on today’s reports into persistent problems at Mid Staffs hospital, where emergency care was branded as ‘appalling’ after 400 patients died unnecessarily, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: “After all the attention that has been paid to this hospital since the appalling deaths in emergency care it is absolutely shocking that there is still a shortage of staff and equipment at Mid Staffs.”

“These reports highlight the scale of the incompetence and mismanagement and the complete failure of the system to respond to the concerns of patients.

“There must be a fully independent inquiry into this affair. This scandal has completely undermined confidence in the regulatory system. Urgent action must be taken to ensure that no more patients die unnecessarily.”

Commenting on today’s report by Lord Bradley, which calls for offenders with mental health problems to be considered for community sentences instead of jail, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth said: “Too many offenders with mental illnesses are being sent to prison when both they and the public would be far better off if they received effective treatment outside.”

“The question is whether the Government will do anything about Lord Bradley’s report. The problem is that Jack Straw cannot resist playing to the gallery.

“It is a disgrace that he has presided over a huge increase in the imprisonment of the mentally ill and that he still boasts about increasing the prison population still further.”

Commenting on the Rose review of primary education, Liberal Democrat Shadow Schools Secretary, David Laws said: “By avoiding the need to reform national tests, there is a strong likelihood that this review will make little difference to what actually happens in the classroom.” 

“If ministers were serious about giving teachers more flexibility over what is taught they would slim down and reform the restrictive national tests.

“It is vital that children are able to use and understand modern technology, but they must have the basic knowledge and skills to enable them to do this properly.

“One in five children leaves primary school without reaching the expected level in reading and writing. It is vital that these reforms don’t prioritise headline-grabbing gimmicks over the need to get the basics right.”

Commenting on the revelation that only one household has been helped by the Government’s Mortgage Rescue Scheme since it started in January, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather said: “Tens of thousands of families will face the misery of repossession and homelessness this year but the Government’s scheme has helped just one household.”

“This is an appalling failure by a Government that is more interested in headline-grabbing than in helping families through the economic crisis.”

Nick Clegg Hails Historic Victory for Gurkhas

Commenting after the vote defeating the Government on rules restricting retired Gurkhas living in this country, Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats said: “This is a historic victory for the Gurkhas who have served our country so bravely.

This Government has now lost its moral authority. From the first moment I challenged Gordon Brown on this over a year ago, he didn’t understand that there was a simple moral principle at stake. People, who are willing to die for our country, should be allowed to live in our country.

The Government must listen to Parliament and scrap these shameful rules immediately and grant justice without conditions to all retired Gurkhas.”

The Liberal Democrat motion on which the Government was defeated in full

Gurkha Settlement Rights

That this House condemns the Government’s recent statement outlining the eligibility criteria for Gurkhas to reside in the United Kingdom; recognises the contribution the Gurkhas have made to the safety and freedom of the United Kingdom for the past 200 years; notes that more Gurkhas have laid down their lives for the United Kingdom than are estimated to want to live here; believes that Gurkhas who retired before 1997 should be treated fairly and in the same way as those who have retired since; is concerned that the Government’s new guidelines will permit only a small minority of Gurkhas and their families to settle whilst preventing the vast majority; further believes that people who are prepared to fight and die for the United Kingdom should be entitled to live here; and calls upon the Government to withdraw its new guidelines immediately and bring forward revised proposals that extend an equal right of residence to all Gurkhas.

On 19 March 2008, Nick Clegg raised the issue in Prime Minister’s Questions

Mr. Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam) (LD): Two hours ago a retired Gurkha soldier handed over this medal to me in protest at the Government’s refusal to grant him British citizenship. Does the Prime Minister know what it means for a loyal British soldier to give up a medal that he won for his long years of service to this country? Can he explain to the Gurkhas why on earth he believes that Gurkhas who have served in the Army after 1997 are worthy of British citizenship, but those who served before that date should be deported?

The Prime Minister: Let me also pay tribute to the Gurkhas. They have been in existence since 1815. They have served loyally in every part of the world, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they fought with Prince Harry over the past few months. They have done a tremendous job for our country. We are the first Government to have given Gurkhas the right to a pension, for those serving after 1997. We are the first to have given equal pay to the Gurkhas. We are the first to have dealt with the problems of married accommodation, and we are the first to say that after four years in the Army they will have the right to residence in this country. Those are changes that we have brought about. Why is the date 1997? It is the date that the Gurkhas, once based in Hong Kong, moved to be based in Britain. That is why we are honouring the promises that we made for the period after 1997.

Mr. Clegg: That is a technical argument on a moral issue. It is a spectacular misjudgement from the man who signed the cheques for the Iraq war, but has never had the moral courage to take responsibility for it.

The Government is keeping a stockpile of 39,500 bottles of wines and spirits worth £792,000, according to figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats. The figures, contained in an answer to a Parliamentary Question, show that the average price of a bottle in the cellar is £20.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: “It is outrageous that ministers believe taxpayers should foot the bill for their lavish tastes.

“While ordinary people up and down the country are facing an increase in alcohol duty, ministers will be quaffing expensive bottles of wine for free.

 “Rather than wasting public money on the high life, this Government should be using every spare penny to help get Britain out of its economic problems.”

In their opposition day debate today, the Liberal Democrats will call on the Foreign Secretary to make clear to the Sri Lankan Government that war crimes prosecutions could follow if it refuses to implement a ceasefire and is party to a bloodbath of Tamil civilians.

With David Miliband visiting Sri Lanka today, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey will tell him that he must stress that the international community will investigate both sides for any allegations of war crimes, and seek prosecutions where there is clear evidence.

Commenting, Edward Davey said: “The Sri Lankan Government has stubbornly refused to listen to all outside pressure so far – whether from the United States, India or the EU – so it’s time for the British Foreign Secretary to spell it out.

“David Miliband must make it plain to the Sri Lankan Government and any representatives of the LTTE he meets that if this fighting continues, and the feared bloodbath occurs, leaders on both sides risk being prosecuted for war crimes.

“If we are to exert any pressure to avert a massacre and a humanitarian catastrophe, we must tell Sri Lankan leaders that their actions will have consequences. Anyone who is proved to have committed war crimes must be in danger of arrest, prosecution and punishment, wherever they go for the rest of their lives.”