"Nick Clegg wants to reposition the Liberal Democrats from being a party of protest to becoming the voice of Middle England, as he reaches out to a new type of voter ahead of "difficult" local elections in May.

"In a move to define Lib Dem ideology in government, Mr Clegg said the party should "own the freehold to the centre ground of British politics".

"Aides said Mr Clegg realised that his party's message in coalition had been unfocused and that the Lib Dems had failed to state clearly "who they stood for"."

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