What's wrong with Nick Clegg?
James Forsyth 10:51am
The lacklustre nature of Nick Clegg’s public performances is becoming more and more bizarre. This morning on the Today Programme he let Chris Huhne comprehensively out muscle him. Indeed, at times it seemed like he was acting as the set up man for Huhne. Listening to the candidates you would also have thought that Huhne—not Clegg—was the young and dynamic candidate.
If Clegg can’t go toe to toe with Huhne, one wonders how he’ll fare in the bear pit atmosphere of Prime Ministers Questions. Michael Gove, admittedly not a disinterested observer, pithily sums up the new Westminster conventional wisdom in his Times column this morning, “Nick looks past it before he’s even got it.”
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Comments
Olly Barkdale
December 4th, 2007 11:19amMore ranting about Nick Clegg from the Spectator. The contest is over, Nick has won. He has no need to "out muscle" Huhne on the today program. This morning's spot was more of an advert for the Lib Dems (eg time to play nice) vs a prizefight - which it seems you are expecting James....
David Muldowney
December 4th, 2007 12:22pmIs it just me or does Vince Cable look by far the better option for the LibDems? Witty, incisive, nerveless in the Commons and with an ability to deal with the big events(and there have been a few recently). Alright, the usual daft LibDem economics - but you can't have everything I suppose
Caroline
December 4th, 2007 2:23pmI'll be pleased if Clegg wins. I'm feeling a bit queasy with these 'bearpit' type encounters. The public will sympathise with Clegg and Brown against the ferocious 'going for the jugular' politics of Hulne and Cameron.
Oscar Miller
December 4th, 2007 2:26pmOlly - Nick Clegg's performance on Today this morning was weak by any standards. He sounded bland and boring while announcing how the party had to be dynamic and reach out beyond its core voters. On his own analysis he does not deserve to win the leadership contest. So why are the LibDems so keen on voting for him? A very bad case of group think comfort zone outflanking objective judgement?
Dave Bartlett
December 4th, 2007 9:51pm@Caroline
No-one likes a wimp.
Caroline
December 4th, 2007 11:12pmDave Bartlett...we'll wait and see then - and have a word when the winner is announced?