Britain is facing a difficult year.  Every day, 200 families are now at risk of losing their homes, and three million people could be out of a job.  The government got us into this mess and haven’t got the right ideas to get us out of it. The Conservatives want to do nothing – they wouldn’t lift a finger to help.

As the New Year starts, it’s time to do things differently.

There is a path to recovery.  Liberal Democrats will do things differently.

We’ll get practical help to families who are struggling – more money in their pockets with big, permanent and fair tax cuts.  That way people will be able to afford the bills and get spending again.

And Liberal Democrats will put the economy back on track with a big, green investment programme.  Instead of wasting billions on a pointless VAT cut that makes little difference we would invest that money to cut your fuel bills, create thousands of jobs and deliver what our country needs for the future.

Warm homes, schools and hospitals, clean energy, public transport we can all be proud of.

I know we can fix the economic mess Britain’s in. If only we do things differently for once. Instead of making the same old mistakes the same old parties have made for generations.

Both Labour and the Conservatives keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect something different to happen. They are parties of the past, prisoners of their own special interests.

Perhaps the greatest danger of today’s recession is that it will mortgage the future of our children. We must prevent that from happening.  That’s why in the first three months of this year, Liberal Democrats will be focusing on the help we can give to children and young families.

Good quality childcare for every family, so children can flourish and mothers and fathers can get out to work – or look for work – without worrying about the nursery or childminder fees.  Extra funding for children from deprived backgrounds, to help raise standards in schools for everyone.  And we’ll be unveiling a pledge to reduce infant class sizes to 15 – so every child gets the individual attention they need to get the best start in life.

This is a time of crisis. But crisis can bring renewal. It can bring change.

Imagine a better Britain – where no-one is held back by their upbringing, everyone has the power to change things for the better, and anyone who struggles gets a helping hand.  A Britain with fair taxes and safe, properly run banks – so that everyone who works hard can make it. A Britain that switches to green energy so the planet is protected and new jobs are created. A Britain where every child is given the chance to succeed.

2009 must be a year of doing things differently. A year of real change. A year of hope.

And that’s what the Liberal Democrats offer.

Happy New Year.