Nick Clegg has been spending a lot of time in his constituency recently. He was there regularly as Deputy Prime Minister, but now he unconstrained by office, he can afford to get up there during the week. He spoke to the Star:
The ‘trappings of power’ have gone, with a security team reduced, the ministerial Blackberry returned and fewer staff – it is a big change from striding along the corridors of power in Whitehall to campaigning on tree felling in Sheffield.
As it happens I’m really enjoying having more time to work in the constituency again,” insists Mr Clegg.
When the Conservatives and SNP argued each other to a standstill on fox hunting, I was able to jump on a train and went straight to the leaving party of a headteacher at Dore Primary School – I would never have been able to do that before.
Things like that, I really enjoy. I’m going to take the time to relish the opportunity I have now to immerse myself more in the community of Sheffield Hallam.
The nature of politics is that when things change, they do so very abruptly and publicly. While, of course, there is all the things you will instantly lose and quite rightly, such as the trappings of power and people who help you, but what has changed the most and what I enjoy most is I just have much more direct contact with the public day-to-day, because I’m not surrounded by a circle of heavies or rushing from one thing to the next all the time.
It’s also been fascinating to see the huge amount of people who say that, even if they didn’t vote for us, how sad they are to see that it ended the way it did.
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8 Comments
A great comment and so reflective of Nick’s character. The same goes for many of us who lost our seats. But as one door closes, another opens and we can reassess what matters most. The tragedy is that the general public and the party are realsing what they are missing so quickly but that should be our and their wake up call. Just finished talking to Jehovah witnesses about the state of the world on the doorstep and the PM is dealing with Seagulls … I ask you!
It’s nice to see Nick in a happier position and I hope he can grow his majority again. 🙂
Steven,
I hope so too, but if the 2013 boundary changes go through he is going to have a hard choice which constituency to stand in out of two Lab/Lib Dem marginals… (and if he stays with most of Hallam in “Sheffield West and Penistone” he may have to acquaint himself with Barnsley politics!)
http://www.boundarychanges.co.uk/index.php?local_id=471&dropdown_form=TRUE
or for more detail go here: http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/boundaries2013.html
The Labour Party member who bet me £20 that Nick Clegg would lose Sheffield Hallam in 2015 has paid.
The money will go to a foodbank in Paddock Wood.
BTW I mentioned the boundary changes because it would be very wise for all local parties to look at these changes now and start campaigning in relevant council wards ASAP. Penistone West has not had a Lib Dem stand in living memory, as far as I can see. With the way we have targeted so ruthlessly in the last few years many constituencies are going to find they include local government deserts in 2020…
Andrew
Are you suggesting a Barnsley Chop?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/barnsley_chops_with_60141
Lord Sewel has resigned from important positions. Who will replace him? What effect wil this have on legislation?
“Lord Sewel, a former senior vice principal of Aberdeen University, received £84,525 as chairman of the Lords’ Privileges and Conduct Committee – the body that upholds standards of behaviour among peers. ”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11763660/Lord-Sewel-resigns-after-snorting-cocaine-with-two-prostitutes.html