Nervous times for Clegg ahead of the Lib Dem spring conference

This weekend’s Lib Dem spring conference is the next big political hurdle for the Health Bill. If the conference votes against the Bill, then it will create a huge political headache for the government and be a severe embarrassment to Nick Clegg.

Talking to Liberal Democrats ahead of the vote on Sunday morning, I’ve been struck by how worried some Clegg supporters are that the vote might be lost. Now, this could well be expectations management. But there are more than a thousand Lib Dem members who have signed the Lib Dem petition against the bill.

On balance, I think it is more likely than not that the leadership escapes a defeat. The combination of Shirley Williams’ support and the fact that the vote will become a test of Clegg’s authority should see them through. But it will be a nervous Sunday morning for Clegg & Co.