Nick Clegg's Speech - BBC - Election 2010

[@kurtjappy]

The man who had it all....but at the same time never did

[@vanmantalks]

very good analogy

[@thatweatherman4411]

He sold us out.

[@Rob1nson]

Clegg was a career politician. When the career slowly ground to a halt after several misjudgments, incl tuition fees, he ran away for a new career with Facebook in California. It was always about him and his ego and he has nothing more to offer British politics.

[@jimmyhopkins3589]

The Cameron / Clegg era was a complete and utter embarrassment for British politics

[@MS-19]

@@jimmyhopkins3589 The electorate delivered a hung Parliament - the electorate owns the success or failure that ensues.

[@Saoirse_don_Phalaistín]

@@jimmyhopkins3589 jesus they look like quantum physists though in the johnson era

[@carlylerogers3529]

He was one of the biggest clowns in UK politics. Pity too many people fell for his nonsense. Good riddance to bad rubbish...

[@3seven5seven1nine9]

People are mad that Nick Clegg found a new job... what was he supposed to do? Go homeless? Do speaking rounds forever? Bruh lmao

[@jpc2470]

I mean, there’s definitely something between “homelessness” and “CEO of Facebook UK” lol

[@Busher50]

The problem is , on the economy, Nick Clegg was basically a Tory - Andrew Adonis

[@andyx1205]

@rockplannet1 Why should Clegg side with the Tories if the Tories aren't willing to compromise on some issues and be for PR reform? Also, more people voted against the Conservatives than for the Conservatives, so Clegg should go for whoever is willing to fix the electoral system. Labour is desperate and will be willing to fix the voting system. Clegg is in a historic position of fixing the U.K.'s electoral system,

[@bambesis]

He might have said all that in Dutch - what difference would it made?

[@johnking5174]

Think of the alternative - Lib Dems linked up with Labour to form a minority government, having to rely on the support of smaller parties to keep the Tories out. An impossible task, leading to a government which could fall at any week. Nick Clegg had no choice, a Tory/Lib Dem government was the only option.

[@RBenjo21]

The only alternative was not to form a coalition with either party, thus either forcing a Cameron minority or a second election.

[@TheYopogo]

Or he could have refused to go into coalition with either, forcing the Tories to govern alone as an equally weak minority government incapable of passing their murderous, unpopular austerity agenda, and then falling within a couple of years. Or, if that was unacceptable to the Tories, have abolishing tuition fees ("under all circumstances I will vote against any rise in fees" was their pledge), full proportional representation and no austerity as red lines in any coalition talks.

[@MS-19]

@@TheYopogo Labour's agenda was also austerity. And it would have been just as bad as Tory austerity. Furthermore, the Tory government would not have fallen at the following election - it would have been likelier to have achieved a majority, as happened with Labour under Harold Wilson in 1974.

[@TheYopogo]

@@MS-19 Labour subsequently changed its position, and recognised that it was wrong to support austerity in the first place and started to oppose it. The Liberal Democrats deliberately enacted it in partnership with the Tories, killing thousands of disabled people among others, and to this day they stand by it, believe it was the right thing to do and that they'd do it all over again. Their current leader was a minister in that government, directly responsible for enforcing that austerity.

[@MS-19]

@@TheYopogo If so many were adversely affected under the coalition, surely it is a foregone conclusion that many more still would have been as badly affected under the Conservatives alone. Ergo, the Liberal Democrats managed to save lives that would otherwise have been lost. Have you flogged the dead horse enough yet? Surely it's time to move on. After all, under the present Conservative government there has been damage to make the damage done under the coalition look infinitesimal.

[@StephenFiorentini]

"White, no sugar please Nick"

[@ryanuk86]

He hasn't betrayed anyone. Ask yourself this question.. would you rather a fully Conservative government, or a Tory/Lib Dem coalition? No Lib Dem, or some Lib Dem? Stop complaining. Too many people support their 'favourite' party like a sports team. It's about what's best for the country.

[@Noice4life]

well that worked out well didn’t it

[@sammorel1427]

A great men, served his nation and party well.

[@TheRobstargames]

Sam Morel as a soon to be uni student, I couldn’t disagree more

[@samuelmorel9340]

@@TheRobstargames, sorry for the very late reply, now I'm an American but I have followed UK politics for many years so I am not unaware of this serious criticism that and I conside to you that it was a very big mistake on his part and many of his fellow MPs. I have $30,000 in student debt so I can easily emphasize with you. I do think it is important to be yourself in the context of May of 2010 you had an economic stormy in Europe the world was still coming off the 08 crash. The Labour party didn't have the votes or the political will to govern David Cameron whatever you think of him now in the post-break context had just obtained most seats and votes. I think the Lib Dems were able to get a lot of good policies enacted and were a good check on the Tories and if in fact, the next general election happens I would rather see your country lead by a Labour-Lib Dem government then a Conservative- Brexit party one. Hope your first year of Univerity is going well! Check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4OrhoGui6ihrtk

[@chucky2316]

Rofl

[@Busher50]

Not stubborn enough against tory policies, yes they stopped a few but didnt go far enough. They sold out many principles for power.

[@stevenpaulgoulding]

Nick the Prick! is a traitor who betrayed his party and supporters when he formed the coalition with the Tories in 2010 and created the most extreme right-wing government ever with austerity and incompetence.

[@theyoutubeguy1]

If this happens again it'll be the SNP picking sides, so a gauranteed scottish independance referendum. Also, the fact that a left-wing party and a right-wing party formed a coalition is a joke.

[@catmonarchist8920]

DUP, LibDems, Plaid, Greens (England and Wales), SDLP, and Alliance would all prefer Labour to the Tories at this point. Could probably form a minority government in most situations. The SNP aren't exactly in a good place themselves.

[@Abdikareem0]

@christimothy12 I know this may sound very hypocritical, but I had a feeling that i saw this coming, I knew he would govern with the Conservatives and would let drop his ideas so that he could have an agreement with conservatives.

[@spress97]

How do you upset Heather Mills?............ Nick Clegg

[@andyx1205]

@jackHNv He wants to change the electoral system so that EVERYONE"s VOTE COUNTS. Currently, 3 votes for the Lib Dems = the same as one vote for either Tories or Labour.

[@blacflag]

Shenanigans!! Shenanigans!! Shenanigans!!

[@catmonarchist8920]

He took the only logical course of action and will forever be hated. And people still bemoan the 2 party system.

[@mrannonymous4822]

He could have made something of himself instead he sold his soul for nothing

[@alfred820]

im a oversea student studying in england and i dun understand why increasing the percentage of votes would decrease the number of seats in the parliament....

[@randomthings7997]

'First Past the Post' does stupid things like that. We need electoral reform BADLY.

[@MS-19]

It's all about individual constituency results rather than the national percentage. A party may have a million votes over the whole nation, but if those are spread too thinly, that party's candidates will be in third place or lower in most seats and will only pick up one or two seats at best in places where they net the 20,000 or so needed to win a constituency. For example, in 2015 the UK Independence Party had nearly 4 million votes but in only one seat were enough of those votes cast for their candidate to win - everywhere else, they were coming in third place, and in other areas still they had just a couple of thousand votes, not enough even to retain the electoral deposits they paid.

[@ctwatcher]

And then he couldn't sleep when his security didn't show up.

[@G0IFI]

Remember also, that the LibDem activists are pretty uncomfortable with this, for the most part. Let's not risk some 'scorched earth' ideas from us driving them further to the right, or they'll end up working with the Tories to keep Labour out, time and again. Clegg was at least prepared to listen to Labour before doing the dirty deal. If we drive them farther away from the progressive side, we'll be out in the cold for some time. Talk to them, and help keep Cameron on a leash.

[@alfred820]

I think it is too early to blame clegg as a traitor. At least see what would the government gonna do for the public b4 blamming him.

[@somerandomasshole4561]

@@jace7796 I sure hope that's sarcasm 😂

[@alexfido2935]

Aged like milk.

[@classicartfoundation639]

Are the Lib Dems still in existence?if so, who pays their wages and why!? What for!? What do they do all day!?

[@richardmadden8742]

They still exist in a much smaller form, in parliament at least. They won 10 seats at the last election and have gained three since, two from defections and a by-election gain.

[@MS-19]

They represent the constituencies whose electors sent them to Parliament. They contribute to bills via amendments, some of which are actually adopted by the government. As an opposition party, they hold the government to account for its actions or inactions

[@cjv91]

I like Nick Clegg

[@vanmantalks]

me too. i love his views on drug reform

[@markbrock6220]

The biggest sell out in politics

[@ronald2394]

PS thankfully I have landed on a site with level headed posters. Take heart people it wont last long......people dont go back in time......no walk down memory lane back to the 1980s...... Remember the song...HOW YA GONNA KEEP EM DOWN ON THE FARM NOW THAT THEY'VE SEEN PARIS. Very apt

[@Symmetryful]

haha clegg is such a tory at heart...

[@G0IFI]

@jackHNv The compromises will be one-sided I think. However: it could've been much worse, remember that, and hope that the Liberals in the coalition will help keep the whacky rightwingers in their box. Go too far, and the liberal prop will fall apart. In the end, though, this government was created, not elected. The electorate will judge them later, for this and what they do to us.

[@G0IFI]

@jackHNv They probably don't think it can work, most people don't. We need to be realistic. The Tories failed to win, despite the media campaign and limitless funds thrown at their campaign. That's great. But so did Labour, and a Liblab coalition wouldn't have lasted a year, an election would have been held, and our worst nightmare probably WOULD have come true. This is a far better outcome than the Tories with a working majority. Yep, they'll be bad. But not as bad as they'd like to be.

[@TheYopogo]

Traitor.

[@MS-19]

What evidence do you have of actions undertaken by Nick Clegg that fit the actual and legal definition of "treason"?

[@TheYopogo]

@@MS-19 You can betray someone without committing the crime of treason against the state. They're obviously different things.

[@MS-19]

@@TheYopogo Alright, so give me evidence that Nick Clegg did so to you or to anyone else.

[@TheYopogo]

@@MS-19 He was elected on the pledge to "vote against any rise in fees". That was the key pledge which got him into his position of power. And he was then the deputy prime minister in a government which trebled tuition fees, and voted for it as an MP. There were riots about this at the time.

[@MS-19]

@@TheYopogo So the Conservatives forced his hand then? After all, as part of the smaller party in coalition, he couldn't get very many of his policies through intact, could he?

[@Purplchick]

Well said nick! Why can't everyone else see that this guy genuinely has a backbone and a moral centre and will do what is right for the country? Idiots...

[@joshferguson8494]

This aged well

[@PeterKellyallakad]

Almighty Powerful Lord God Creator has summoned @Number10gov in charge of the people on my land. I converse in The Kings English with my son 3in1of2 Loyal Noble Faithful Servants Frederick & Peter of Lancaster UK only & no other living or dead. For what is to be completed & done regarding my sphere. My Great & Mighty Holy Sphere constructed in the place of my sons birth,reveal the location of my ark of the lost covenant, I have kept hidden for the resurrection of all dead up & out eternal life.

[@ECTBWHO]

: P

[@sdjokr1]

He's so smug

[@raidwipe]

+sdjokr1 really? I see confidence but no smugness