Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has set out his plans for new entitlements for parents, pupils, and patients, creating new freedoms for grassroots organisations to provide innovation in public services.     

In his first major speech to the party since being elected Leader, Nick Clegg declared that empowerment must be an everyday thing not just reserved for the moment a vote is cast in the ballot box.

He said he wants 2008 to be a year of ‘thinking daringly’ for the Liberal Democrats.

Nick Clegg said:

“I stand for the following principles: the state must intervene to allocate money on a fair basis in our health and education systems; to guarantee equality of access in our schools and hospitals; and to oversee core standards and entitlements.

“But once those building blocks are in place, the state must back off and allow the genius of grassroots innovation, diversity and experimentation to take off in providing an array of top class schools and hospitals. 

“Freedom. Innovation. Diversity. Yes, choice too. These are liberal words. Let us take them back.”

Speaking about driving up standards in failing schools, he said:

“When it comes to public services, I will never accept that wealthy Britain should be the sick man of Europe.

“I don’t think it should be acceptable for any school to have over half of young people leaving without five good grades.

“It shouldn’t be acceptable that we have such low standards for GCSE pass scores that the Government reports as ‘passes’ some grades which we know are in reality of no value in today’s labour market.

“You can get a G, in some cases, for a mark of about 20%. It’s time to call a fail a fail, and raise expectations by abolishing the two lowest pass grades for GCSEs.”

Advocating establishing a new model of schools, Nick Clegg said:

“I want us to look at establishing a new liberal model of schools - let us call them Free Schools - that are non-selective, under local government strategic oversight but not run by the council, and free to innovate to drive up standards for all our children.

“They could be established by any suitable sponsor, including parents, educational charities, voluntary and private organisations with the right credentials.”

Talking about how to give patients clear individual entitlements, Nick will say:

“I am totally committed to the National Health Service. It must always remain free at the point of use, accessible to all.

“But people need to be able to take more control both of its management, and their own healthcare.

“So every patient should have a guarantee of treatment within a specified waiting time - and to drive the NHS to deliver that, everyone should have the right to private treatment, paid for by the NHS if the waiting time’s not met.

“And patients should have more control over their care - where possible with budgets devolved to individuals for long term and chronic conditions.

“In particular, these rights are crucial for people with mental health problems. Mental illness affects one in four British families: it can no longer be neglected just because it doesn’t make a good photo opportunity.”

You can read the full speech here.

The speech has received widespread media coverage, including:

• BBC: Lib Dems want parent run schools
• ePolitix: Clegg backs 'diversity and choice'
• Independent: Clegg to call for smaller state
• Press Assocation: Clegg in call to scrap low grades