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Clegg: Labour in death throes

13/09/2008

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has claimed Labour are in their "death throes" as a party of government amid the proposed challenges to Gordon Brown's premiership.

Mr Brown appears to be losing the faith of his backbenchers after two more senior party members spoke out on Saturday to say they want to see a leadership contest at this autumn's party conference in Manchester.

The prime minister is attempting to keep a lid on matters by requesting the resignations of rebel MPs.

But Mr Clegg, speaking ahead of the first day of his own party's conference in Bournemouth, said he believes the warning signs are there for all to see that Labour are in dire straits.

"We are watching the death throes of the Labour party," he told journalists at a lunch.

"I don't think there is any way back for them. I believe we are emerging as the only progressive party in British politics."

Mr Clegg also launched a scathing attack on Conservative party leader David Cameron, dismissing him as a man "obsessed with soundbites".

Mr Cameron angered many senior figures within the Liberal party when he described Mr Clegg as "a joke" recently.