Clegg: Not voting Lib Dem 'will jeopardise the economy'

Nick Clegg warned voters they would jeopardise Britain's economic recovery and put jobs at risk if they vote for any party other than the Liberal Democrats in May's European Parliament elections.

The Deputy Prime Minister used his New Year message to deliver a boldly pro-EU speech in a bid to confront head on the mounting threat of the UK Independence Party.

Mr Clegg is opposed to his Conservative coalition colleague David Cameron's promise of an in/out referendum by 2017 and he accuses Labour of failing to make the case for continued membership sufficiently strongly.

He said: "Ukip want out. The Conservatives are flirting with exit. And Labour just don't have the courage of their convictions on this. All three would put narrow political interests ahead of the national economic interest."

Read: Party leaders set out their visions for New Year