THE Liberal Democrats are to fight NHS changes as party bosses try to appease defeated council leaders.

David Faulkner, who saw his Lib Dem group lose control of Newcastle Council on Friday, was one of many who spoke to Nick Clegg in the hours following last week’s local elections.

Mr Faulkner said the party must now start to stand up for what it believes in rather than simply go along with the Conservatives in the coalition Government.

He held crisis talks with Mr Clegg after Labour seized back control of Newcastle Council.

Mr Faulkner, who will remain as Lib Dem group leader after the handover on May 25, said: “I have spoken to Nick Clegg and I have said I think the party needs to harbour a much more distinctive position within the coalition, particularly on issues such as the NHS and local government finances.

“We have to show a reflection of our values and policies through the coalition.

“I think we have taken the flak for the majority part of the coalition and the Tories have come out of this smelling of roses.”

That fightback appeared to start yesterday when Mr Clegg and deputy Lib Dem leader Simon Hughes said the party would seek to water down health reforms in the wake of the Alternative Vote defeat and poor showing at the polls.

Mr Clegg threatened to veto the NHS reforms unless they are substantially improved, as he set out plans to give the Liberal Democrats a “louder voice” in the coalition.

He insisted it was not the time for “tit for tat politics in the Government (with) ministers fighting like cats and dogs”.

And he said there would be no rewriting of the coalition agreement.