Clegg’s crowd pleaser at the Lib Dem conference

For a party leader constantly dogged by terrible poll ratings, rumours about his future in the job and quietly rebellious colleagues, it was a pretty good first day of conference.

Nick Clegg insisted the Liberal Democrats were imposing their will on their Tory “enemies” as he kicked off the party’s conference tonight.

The Deputy Prime Minister mounted a robust defence of his performance in government as he sought to assuage activists’ concerns over a series of high-profile policies.

Although the coalition may appear united in public, Lib Dem ministers were fighting “tooth and nail” for the party’s values behind the scenes, Mr Clegg said.

Mr Clegg said: “We didn’t win the election so we can’t do everything we want to, but we are doing a remarkable amount.

“Make no mistake – we are punching above our weight. The BBC recently reported research showing that three quarters of our manifesto is being delivered in government – more than the Conservative manifesto.

“Not bad given we have just 8% of the MPs in Westminster. And our liberal voice is loud and clear.

“On the NHS – your votes at spring conference in Sheffield were carried into the corridors of Whitehall, resulting in real change

Read more from Gary Gibbon's blog: Clegg says conference is 'worryingly quiet'

An attempt by activists including former MP Dr Evan Harris to reopen the debate on reorganising the NHS was also defeated. Members voted by 235 votes to 183 in favour of allowing an emergency motion on the changes to be debated.

But because the bid fell short of a two-thirds majority it will not be eligible for selection – sparking cries of “shame” from the floor.

We didn’t win the election so we can’t do everything we want to, but we are doing a remarkable amount. Make no mistake – we are punching above our weight. Nick Clegg, Lib Dem leader

Addressing a rally to launch the autumn conference this evening, Mr Clegg admitted that many activists were still uncomfortable about his pact with David Cameron and the party’s slump in the polls.

And he promised a tougher approach to his Conservative colleagues that would put more stress on Lib Dem “wins”.

“We never oppose for the sake of opposition but we never shrink from telling it like it is and fighting for what is right,” he told the party.

“If that makes us a bit awkward, a bit challenging, a bit difficult, so be it. We are prepared to be awkward.”

Standing firm on tax

The Lib Dem leader pleased his party by declaring that he would stop any attempts to scrap the rate – unless it was replaced with new taxes on unearned incomes. These could include a 1 per cent annual “mansion tax” on homes worth more than £2m, a land tax, and restricting tax relief on pensions to the basic 20p rate

While the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg‘s show of muscle-flexing on the eve of the party conference season played well with Lib Dem activists, it will infuriate many Tories who are determined to see an end to the 50p rate.

Mr Clegg said cutting rates for the wealthy while millions were struggling to make ends meet could destroy public support for the entire tax system.

In an interview with The Independent, Mr Clegg also acknowledged that the Government had to do more to boost growth in the economy, adopting what he called a “Plan A-plus”.

Chancellor George Osborne has made no secret of his desire to abolish the 50p rate on incomes over £150,000 – describing it as a “temporary” measure introduced by the former Labour government.

However Mr Clegg made clear that as far as the Lib Dems were concerned, the priority had to be reducing the burden of taxation on lower and middle income earners.

Channel 4 News Live Blog: Lib Dem conference

Same-sex marriage

The Lib Dem leader notched further succeses with activists by opening the Liberal Democrat conference with a pledge to press ahead with moves to legalise same-sex marriages.

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone used her speech to promise a public consultation early next year, ensuring legislation can be in place by the time of the next general election in May 2015.

However – in a possible sign of conference season tensions within the coalition – senior Conservatives were making clear the move had been pushed through with the personal backing of David Cameron.

Read more from Channel 4 News: Same-sex marriage law planned 

Conference begins

The five-day conference event is the first major gathering of Lib Dem activists since nearly 700 of its councillors were ejected in a local election bloodbath in May – swiftly followed by a crushing referendum defeat for its cherished ambition of changing the voting system.

In what party president Tim Farron describes in his conference message as a “particularly distressing” year, the party has also faced student anger and riots over its U-turn on scrapping tuition fees and seen its opinion poll rating remain very low.

The election results sparked calls for Mr Clegg to quit as party leader but he instead promised a “muscular” campaign to exert a stronger Lib Dem influence over Government policy.

Apparent successes, notably in securing extensive changes to the Tory-led NHS reforms, appear to have calmed internal dissent though that issue could still prove a flashpoint with staunch critics of even the reformed package seeking a vote on the issue.