The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Nick Clegg MP, made himself available for a question and answer session with party members this afternoon, and a packed Oval Hall at Sheffield’s City Hall called in to hear his answers.
Hear him as he talks about Lords reform and tuition fees and takes questions within topic from speakers on the floor.
And did he really forget he was in charge of the country? Find out by clicking the “play in another window” link below.
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7 Comments
Could any attendees confirm that this happened:-
One delegate, a member of the Federal Policy Committee, got up and said how conference had “sent the government a message” with its decision to amend the coalition’s health reform plans. To which a visibly exasperated Clegg replied, “you’re part of the government.”
That did happen; the delegate was Gareth Epps
Thanks for taking the time to make this podcast available. 🙂
I don’t think the delegates and activists feel part of the government and if the NHS and DLA motions are ignored by Nick then his exasperation will be as nothing compared to the repercussions that will cause.
Please note it’s the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
I don’t think “visibly exasperated” is a fair characterization, however – I thought Clegg said it in a fairly jokey tone of voice. The recording will include the exchange, listen to it and make your own mind up.
I would think it pretty hard to tell if someone was “visibly exasperated”, from an audio recording. The fact that Clegg thought this a suitable response, is very telling.
“I would think it pretty hard to tell if someone was “visibly exasperated”, from an audio recording. The fact that Clegg thought this a suitable response, is very telling.”
It’s more a statement of fact than anything. Lib Dem policy is the basis for their MP’s ongoing and continuing negotiation over policy within the government… and that policy is decided democratically by all the people who were there. Of course that doesn’t guarantee that it will make it in to government (at all or in a negotiated form), the same as Tory policy making… by however they do it (random selection from tape recordings of old Maggie speeches I think) also might not make it in to government (of course their massively disproportionate number of MP’s helps there). Being involved does not mean always getting your way. It’s right to say they are part of government… the operative word being ‘part’