Nick Clegg writes...

3.00.00pm GMT Wed 21st Nov 2007

Nick Clegg MP

Dear Colin, Thanks so much for the opportunity to post a "rebuttal" on your blog. Yours is one of the best Lib Dem sites, and it's great to be asked to join in.

I've been determined to lead a positive, outward-looking campaign. So if it's ok with you, I'd like to take the opportunity to outline what I'm about instead of trying to score points against your well thought-out article!

I am a liberal to my core. My mother spent years in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp. My grandmother fled the violence of Soviet Russia. I've always valued freedom, and understood the power of tyranny.

And I believe Britain is a liberal country, too. You can trace in our history a golden thread of liberal thought, of dissent, of people's revolts, that has been a fundamental part of our development as a nation. So our party doesn't need to be a minority. We can break the two party grip on politics for good.

I am proud that our democratic policy process binds the leader as much as every party member. So in this election I've published a /personal/ manifesto <http://www.nickclegg.com/assets/NickClegg.pdf>, in a format I think will be accessible to the widest possible number of people, even those turned off by mainstream politics.

But let me also run through with you some of the ideas I've put forward - and where you can find out more.

I suggested a programme of new affordable housing <http://www.farminguk.com/index.asp?show=newsArticle&id=4691&country=>;, including plans for a "Home on the Farm" scheme in rural communities.

I set out plans for a Climate Change Covenant <http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/nick_clegg/2007/10/deep_green_thinking.html>, between government, business and individuals, to inspire not hector people into tackling climate change.

I spoke <http://nickclegg.com/campaign/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=436&Itemid=43>;* *to the North East Economic Forum, setting out my principles for economic policy under my leadership.

Writing in the Financial Times, I set out plans for reform of the EU, while arguing the full case for Britain's ongoing involvement in Europe <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/00fc1e6c-8b41-11dc-95f7-0000779fd2ac.html>.

In a mailing <http://www.wld.org.uk/resources/sites/217.160.173.25-3f1e5c7f9221e8.76404033/Leadership%20Candidates%27%20policies%20for%20women%202007/Nick+Clegg%27s+statement+for+women.pdf> to Women Liberal Democrats, I pledged to make the Liberal Democrats the party of every family - civil partners, step-parents, lone parents, grandparents, carers, foster families, brothers, sisters as well as husbands and wives.

In response to the pledge by a Conservative council to build the first grammar school in Britain in 50 years, I challenged <http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212789,00.html> David Cameron to oppose the project.

I challenged <http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article3160641.ece> Gordon Brown on Iran, warning that Britain could sleepwalk into conflict if the pattern that led up to the invasion of Iraq is followed.

And I asked <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/11/nmilitary311.xml> Ming Campbell to chair a commission on the broken military covenant.**

I have learned my politics fighting and beating Labour and the Conservatives, first in the East Midlands and then in Sheffield. I believe it's ideas like these, addressing the challenges Britain is facing, that can help us take that fight to the next level. If we look outwards, we can all win. I promise to bring all the energy, passion and commitment I have to leading our party. I hope you will support me.

Nick Clegg