I did wonder if I’d slipped down a rabbit hole when I heard this news.
But, given his acclaimed appearance of The Last Leg and his LBC experience, it is perhaps understandable that ‘Have I got news for you’ have invited Nick Clegg to present the first show of the new series on October 7th. Now that he has been separated from his Deputy Prime Ministerial limo for a while, he is perhaps sufficiently non-establishment enough to provide a bit of grist to the HIGNFY mill.
It should be worth watching, if only for the comments of the pannellists aimed at the back of the former DPM.
Scottish comedian Kevin Bridges is lined up for the panel, suggesting the programme should be strong on humour and perhaps light on scathing barbs aimed at the Cleggster.
* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
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18 Comments
Gary Lineker accepted the challenge. When asked “Is football corrupt?” he said “Yes” and moved on. That was about FIFA. This report is from memory.
Comparisons with the late, great Charles Kennedy are likely: “I’m in charge, get used to it.”
I do very much hope that no-one says anything about the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. On second thoughts, perhaps I do. Anyway, I shall be watching. It should be an unexpected Autumn treat.
I’m guessing the scores will end up tied so either team have to strike a deal with the quizmaster to form a winning coalition
He ain’t no Charles Kennedy. How the mighty have fallen,
Jen
I’m sure you’re right.
Charles Kennedy was unique. Nick and the Lib Dems shared power and responsibility in a coalition and are much the stronger for doing so. On Iraq Charles had no power or direct responsibility for what was perpetrated. Both Charles and Nick took the responsibility for putting this country first and both succeeded. This Party goes from strength to strength in credibility and in providing the voice of sanity.
It causes me physical pain to admit it but his book is actually very funny in places. I love the bit where he is at a London 2012 event and to avoid the jeering Osborne got at the Olympics he switches to speaking in Dutch so he at least gets some cheers from the Netherlands’ fans.
Having trashed the party, he still can’t do the decent thing and disappear into we deserved obscurity. It is no wonder the party is still stuck at 7% in the polls.
His book is a whingefest highlighting his own political ineptness – that people were queuing up to get signed copies at conference suggests the party is becoming Corbynista lite. Presumably the same people who told us if people didn’t like Nick Clegg they would come to respect him now accept that he is the new Neal and Christine Hamilton.
Ruth Bright
I am amused by your comment which I think – possibly – my mother also might have found. My mother lived in Alton in Hampshire. Though why I mention this I don’t know. They have farmers markets near the Swan Hotel. She would probably have said: Dutch – well its all Greek to me.
It’s Sunday morning. Why not be discursive? The re-mapping of British politics begins after the Conservative Conference. Anyone up for this?
Well, I met a friend last night (a young academic lawyer) who likes Nick Clegg (making special mention of his regular column in the London Standard) and has now joined the Party. I accept that there are many LD members and supporters who view him as our equivalent to Ramsey MacDonald but there are (anecdotally, I confess) voters who see him in a more positive light, not least because of the authority with which he speaks about Brexit.
Hello Grahame my Grandma worked as a waitress at the Swan Hotel in Alton. I have a lovely picture of your Mum if you would like it! (Sorry all, slightly off subject)
If Cameron wants cheering up after the ignominious ending of his lack-lustre political career, perhaps he will tune in on 7 October to watch his favourite political joke,
Ruth – I’d love it. How? At the NLC in Whitehall Place. I can be contacted there outside this site, which the Editor might agree appropriate.
Staying on subject – definitely looking forward to Nick Clegg on TV. Someone might challenge him on student tuition fees. An Achilles heel it can’t be denied.
This may turn out to be one of Nick’s worst decisions (and there have been plenty)….
It’s strange how politicians seem to believe that they can ‘hold their own’ in the company of professional comedians….A reason Charles Kennedy did rather well was that the main topic of that show was ‘Blair/Iraq’ and the panel and ‘host’ were on his side….
I can’t see the same courtesy being given to Nick…
Oh dear. So far, the man who led our party to electoral disaster is now going to try HIGNFY. Remember his jokes, I use the term loosely, in the debate with Farage?
Ultimately, there are only two reasons people get invited onto HIGNFY. First, because they are good at telling jokes, or second, because they can be the butt of various jokes.
I’m sure Nick can take a joke, but as the man who made our party an electoral joke, he really needs to find something to do that doesn’t do the party any more damage.
I watched the programme and ‘Frenetic’ was the first word that came to mind…
I was reminded of the old Russian tale of the ‘Sleigh and the Wolves’…Nick threw Rudd, Hunt, Gove, Evans, etc. to the ‘wolves’; as fast as one was devoured there was another to take their place…
However, to be fair to Nick, it largely worked and, in boxing parlance, he could reasonably claim, “They barely laid a glove on me!”…
No mention of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. After the watershed, Michael Gove, on camera, wearing a kilt. One panellist mentioned a pig, an alleged reference to David Cameron’s student days. It “largely worked” because of the “frenetic” pace.
BBC1 10.45 10/10/2016 HIGNIFY
Have I Got a bit MORE News For You.