nick clegg insisted yesterday his party was 'here to stay' as he predicted the liberal democrats would defy the odds to serve a second term in government despite consistently dismal poll ratings, the lib dem leader claimed it would win more seats than forecast and could still hold office with fewer mps attacking his conservative coalition partners, he compared david cameron to 'nigel farage in a white tie' and declared: 'cows moo, dogs bark – and tories cut it's in their dna' scroll down for video  liberal democrats leader nick clegg salutes the audience after speaking at a party conference in liverpool  mr clegg claims his party could stop a 'rag tag mob' of mps from ukip or the scottish national party from holding the balance of power after the election on may 7  nick clegg hugs his wife miriam gonzalez durantez, a partner at a us law firm, after his speech in liverpool  mr clegg also criticised labour, despite making it clear he could foresee a coalition with either of the major parties but he ruled out a formal coalition deal involving the snp or ukip he went so far as to claim that only his party could stop a 'rag tag mob' of mps from ukip or the scottish national party from holding the balance of power after the election on may 7 the latest polls have consistently put the lib dems on just 7 per cent, with experts predicting they will lose at least half the 57 seats they won at the last election but, bizarrely, mr clegg compared their hopes for the future to last november's landing of the rosetta space probe on the surface of a comet 'what an audacious, optimistic thing to have ever dreamt of attempting,' he said speaking at the party's spring conference in liverpool, he added: 'i want us to take just a little bit of the spirit of that audacious project and to think big' mr clegg, who appeared to have matched his pink tie with the bubblegum pink dress worn by his wife miriam, watching from the front row, said his party would 'defy the odds and win this may' he added: 'i have a message for all those who are writing us off again: the liberal democrats are here to stay i've heard the predictions, i've seen the polls but let me tell you this: we will do so much better than anyone thinks' however, his upbeat speech was overshadowed by an attack from left winger tim farron, who is thought to want his job mr farron, the lib dems' former president, said a second coalition with the tories would tarnish the party's reputation 'over the next generation' he said he would give the party just two out of ten for its handling of coalition government mr clegg, who appeared to have matched his pink tie with the bubblegum pink dress worn by his wife miriam, watching from the front row, said his party would 'defy the odds and win this may' wife miriam gonzalez durantez and women's minister jo swinson listen to the keynote speech in liverpool  the deputy prime minister said: 'i have a message for all those who are writing us off again: the liberal democrats are here to stay' former leader paddy ashdown was unable to suppress a yawn as he watched mr clegg deliver his speech  but former leader paddy ashdown said yesterday that mr farron should keep his ambitions in check lord ashdown, who struggled to stifle a yawn during the conference, said of mr farron: 'i think his well known ambitions would be better served with a little more patience and a little more judgment 'tim is a very able guy but judgment is not his strong suit' lib dem insiders firmly believe the party could be back in ministerial posts even if they emerge with as few as 30 seats on may 8 they expect the tories to emerge as the largest party, and hope they will be within 30 seats of a majority – 326 seats – so the lib dems can prop them up mr clegg's 46 year old wife – a partner at a us law firm – does not get on stage to embrace her husband as other political wives do after their speeches yesterday, it was mr clegg who came down the steps – as at previous conferences – and hugged her before they left to cheers from the party faithful
clegg lib dems ukip
mr clegg claims lib dems will will more seats than forecast in may election . says his party can stop a 'rag tag mob' of mps from ukip or snps . claims his party will 'defy the odds and win this may' despite gloomy polls 