Nick Clegg on Today Programme

Interesting to hear the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, on the Today programme this morning.

Not that much information was imparted that was of interest, but more the manner in which he spoke:

a) Wherever possible, in answering a questions, mention how it’s all Labour’s fault, repeatedly.

b) Once you get to a subject you are confident about, speak quickly and continuously at great length, preventing the interviewer from interjecting with another awkward question.

In fact, he sounded just like a tory!

7 Comments

  1. January 10, 2011
    Reply

    And this surprises anyone?

    The only thing that stops me believing that Conservative Party HQ trained up a bunch of sleeper agents and planted them in the hierarchy of the other two main parties with instructions to achieve the leadership of said parties and then deliver them up on a platter…is that I don’t believe the Conservatives are that competent.

    Clegg will have been well briefed.

  2. January 10, 2011
    Reply

    Lets be honest, he sounds like a politician.

      • chris
        January 10, 2011
        Reply

        To be fair, there are certain politicians – of all parties – who appear to be true to themselves, will give a straight answer to a question, and are worth listening to, even if I disagree with their politics.

        Up to recently, I had mistakenly thought Vince Cable to be one of these, but he has quite remarkably blotted his copy book lately.

        I’m afraid I have always had Clegg in the “more style than substance” category.

        • January 10, 2011
          Reply

          Stand. Stand for office. Get stuck in with local politics at least; in many areas there are uncontested elections because nobody steps forward to challenge the incumbent. It’s not easy, and it’s not glamourous or fun, much of the time, but these things need doing, and we end up with a ‘political class’ because we’ve mostly got better things to do… so, seriously, look at your local lot and stand.

        • January 10, 2011
          Reply

          Oh yes, all generalisations are wrong in specific (including this one). There are certainly some honourable politicians, and lawyers, and even double-glazing salesmen. But on balance of probabilities (and looking at the last several UK governments) I’d rather play roulette (it’s more fun watching that little ball bounce around)…

          Worth listening to, certainly, it’s a good self-defence activity as well as anything else. And there are certainly some to whom I find worth lisening even when I know I will completely disagree, because they are good speakers (or even just amusing, like a certain mayor). And there are some people (like Keith Olbermann, mentioned else-LJ) who are superb examples of the way it is possible to be very critical without descending to violence and crudity that they are well worth it even if one totally disagrees with their position.

          (As far as I can see the less power people have the more likely they are to be honest. Members of county council, town council, parish, etc. seem to be better in inverse proportion to the amount of individual power.)

  3. chris
    January 14, 2011
    Reply

    Hmmm. I was sure I replied to this, but my comment no longer appears to be here.

    My original comment was along the lines that even I wouldn’t vote for me.

    More seriously, although the idea appeals, I don’t think I could commit to the level of activity required, and the last thing I’d want is to do this kind of thing half-cocked. In other words (and I know you will disagree), I’m simply not sure I am responsible enough.

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