If I were Nick Clegg I would be worried. I have just chaired a discussion with three senior political columnists for this week’s Week in Westminster. You can hear it on Saturday on Radio 4 at 11am. The discussion largely focused on Gordon Brown and the problems of his government. There was general agreement that Brown could not be written off yet, that although he was in deep trouble he had time to turn things around. There was a mix of praise and criticism for David Cameron.
For Nick Clegg there was univeral scathing disdain, largely for his naivety over giving an interview to Piers Morgan in GQ and then answering questions about his sex life. In a short time Clegg has had two nicknames, ‘Calamity Clegg’ and ‘Cleggover’. Neither adds to his gravitas.
Some would argue that the verdicts of a trio of pundits are neither here nor there, but for a new leader of the Liberal Democrats such judgements do matter. Leaders of third parties do not get much media attention and it needs to be positive when the light fleetingly shines. These are early days. Clegg has made some good policy based speeches and positioned his party in an interesting, if vaguely defined, part of the political spectrum. But if the media decides over the next few months that first and foremost he is silly, Clegg is doomed. The panel on Saturday’s programme is Peter Riddell, Kevin Maguire and Peter Oborne.
Shouldn't this piece have been titled something more like:
Why Political Pundits are Gossip Obsessed Twats
or:
Nick Clegg: Who Cares About his Policies? Let's Look at the Gossip
or:
If Nick Clegg Thought his Passionate Attack on ID Cards Would Earn Esteem, he Reckoned Against the Thickoes That Write Gossip Dressed up as Analysis
And we are fighting Iraqis and Afghans to introduce democracy there. I think we should be more concerned about how our own democracy is doing.
Posted by: Gregor | Thursday, 03 April 2008 at 04:52 PM
It truly is a shame that comments made by MP's on matters that have absolutely nothing to do with government, warrant so much attention and criticism. Why can't politicians be allowed to speak their mind - maybe then they would appear more human to the rest of us!!
Posted by: Kenny | Thursday, 03 April 2008 at 04:54 PM
Steve,
I think you need to look at your own profession before having a go at Nick Clegg. I haven't read the interview with Piers Morgan but I'm guessing the part about his sex life comprised at most around 5% of it. It's the media who focused on it rather then the multitude of other possibilities because as you well know, juvenile puns about Nick 'Cleggover' will attract more readers for you then a discussion about the merits of PR. Once again, not Nick's fault and certainly not as embarrassing as Cameron being asked about his sexual feelings towards Thatcher on the Jonathon Ross show on BBC1
Posted by: Simon Leonard | Thursday, 03 April 2008 at 05:25 PM
It's time my profession (journalism) got a life and grew up! No one gives a monkeys about Nick Clegg's sex life. It's certainly not something which would affect the way someone votes. The world has moved on - and i suspect the public greatly admire his honesty! Why is the press/broadcasters etc always the last to catch up with progress????
Posted by: Ashley Byrne | Thursday, 03 April 2008 at 05:38 PM
It's time my profession (journalism) got a life and grew up! No one gives a monkeys about Nick Clegg's sex life. It's certainly not something which would affect the way someone votes. The world has moved on - and i suspect the public greatly admire his honesty! Why is the press/broadcasters etc always the last to catch up with progress????
Posted by: Ashley Byrne | Thursday, 03 April 2008 at 05:40 PM
Gregor is right of course but we can't all be cromwellian Guardian columnists all the time. I myself am so infantile that i find his name funny, cleg being scots for a nasty biting horsefly.
I think actually what's rumbling under all the clegkeech is that most people want Charles Kennedy back - i know I do.
Posted by: Edwin | Thursday, 03 April 2008 at 05:40 PM
Surely Foot & Mouth syndrome is an occupational for politicians?
In truth I've no real interest in his personal sex life, whether real or imagined. I'm a lot more interested in what his policies are as well as his capabilities. That's what he should also be interested in, not broadcasting his sexual prowesses on air.
Maybe it's time he handed over to Vince Cable, who comes across as being competent and probably knows when to keep quiet!
Posted by: flipped | Thursday, 03 April 2008 at 06:37 PM
Flipped - the problem is that Nick Clegg does talk constantly about his policies and makes lots of great speeches but they rarely get reported by the media. Vince Cable is being used as a stooge by the media to get at Clegg in my view. He's a great deputy leader but, let's face it, if he was the leader the media would start harping on about his age now wouldn't they. Give Clegg a chance...he's bound to shine through when they HAVE to give him publicity during an election campaign.
Posted by: Ashley Byrne | Friday, 04 April 2008 at 01:37 AM
The transcript of the interview which has been released shows a disarmingly open Nick Clegg. Indeed, he is making a name for himself as open and honest. That's terrible isn't it?
Posted by: Paul Walter | Friday, 04 April 2008 at 09:39 AM
' In a short time Clegg has had two nicknames, ‘Calamity Clegg’ and ‘Cleggover’. Neither adds to his gravitas.'
It is almost amusing that this twat thinks that infantile jokes from his stupid journo friends detract from Clegg's 'gravitas'. If the idiots who are employed through nepotism had any gravitas such embarassingly unfunny jokes might have detracted from it.
Posted by: Gregor | Friday, 04 April 2008 at 10:13 AM
One of Nick Clegg's USPs is his transparent honesty. Had he (as perhaps he should have) refused to be drawn on the question no doubt he would then have been criticised for trying to hide something, no doubt initiating a media frenzy to find out exactly what. I admire him for taking his message out to the electorate through as many means as possible, but there are arenas out there where frankly I am not sure it is wise to go. This will be a storm in a teacup and Nick is in it for the long run. He will hit a few bumps in the road on that journey, but no more and no less than many others. I am rather shocked that such eminent political commentators are displaying such a shallow, lazy approach to political analysis.
Posted by: Linda Jack | Friday, 04 April 2008 at 10:49 AM
If he is so honest, why did he not answer the drugs question in this interview?
Posted by: Steveb | Friday, 04 April 2008 at 11:55 AM
By the way I just got an email from the Lib Dems voicing support fo a boycott of the CHinese olympics unless the Chinese improve their human rights record.
Of course, who cares? That 'Calamity Clegg' joke is so hilarious that his ethialsupport for human rights is pretty irrelevant.
Posted by: gregor | Friday, 04 April 2008 at 06:26 PM