<p><br /> Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has issued a stark warning to gas and electricity providers that he would step in unless they stopped imposing "outrageous" hidden price hikes on customers.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Huhne stressed the Coalition's determination to protect consumers as the Liberal Democrat leadership battled to quell activists' discontent over the power-sharing deal with the Tories at the party's conference in Liverpool.<br /> </p><p><br /> Party leader Nick Clegg pleaded with rank-and-file members to "stick with" him on Tuesday after he suffered a major rebellion over key coalition school reforms just hours before his keynote speech.<br /> </p><p><br /> But one angry MP accused him of failing to offer the necessary reassurance to supporters amid slumping poll ratings and said he missed his chance "by a mile" to speak to the concerns of Lib Dem voters across the country.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mike Hancock renewed his criticism after sending an open letter to Mr Clegg warning against the party being taken over by a "dictatorship" of ministers and abandoning its commitment to the welfare state.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Deputy Prime Minister will leave the simmering dissent behind him as he cuts short his attendance to fly to the US to represent Britain at high-level talks at the United Nations in New York and then in Washington.<br /> </p><p><br /> Taking centre stage in his place will be deputy leader Simon Hughes, who last night called for "robust" Lib Dem opposition to moves - championed by Prime Minister David Cameron - to renew the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent.<br /> </p>
