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'City folk help shape our policy'
LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg has told how he has been inspired by a Sheffield mum who transformed her disabled son's life after being handed the budget for his care.
The Sheffield Hallam MP used his first conference speech as Lib Dem leader to hail a social care policy that is being rolled out by the city's Lib Dem administration.
He told the party faithful how he recently met Katrina Ellershaw, a "wonderful mother" of three disabled sons, whose oldest son Jonathan, aged 19, is unable to walk, talk clearly or feed himself alone.
But his quality of life was hugely improved after Katrina, 46, from Heeley, was given responsibility for his 'individual budget' and care plan.
This allowed her to employ a personal assistant to help Jonathan learn new skills to lead to an independent life and accompany him four days a week to WORK Ltd, a Ringinglow charity for adults with learning difficulties.
To warm applause from activists Mr Clegg said: "Jonathan's just got his own individual budget and care plan. Now he's doing work with a local charity, attending a music group, has his own personal assistant.
"A child whose potential seemed so limited finally, as a young man, is engaged in life in a way he and his mother never thought possible.
"Katrina told me with the biggest smile I've ever seen, 'We've gone from having nothing to having everything'."
Mr Clegg made clear that his experiences as a Sheffield MP are helping him shape his party's policies. He is being particularly influenced by families in his constituency who have told him about the economic hardship they are facing.
He said he had met 'Angie', a middle-aged mum who is finding it difficult to sleep because of her worries about making ends meet.
"She told me about that sinking feeling she gets at the supermarket checkout and the petrol pump – counting down the days until her cheap mortgage deal ends," he said.
Mr Clegg also used his 38-minute speech to make a direct appeal for Labour supporters angry at Gordon Brown's "zombie government" to switch to the Liberal Democrats.
Pouring scorn on Gordon Brown's beleaguered administration he said: "They're the living dead, no heart, no mind, no soul. Stumbling around with no idea what to do.
"A cross between Shaun of the Dead and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue."
Since taking over as Lib Dem leader nine months ago, Mr Clegg has concentrated the party's resources on attempting to snatch 50 Labour-held marginal constituencies, including Sheffield Central.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
