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December 2009 edition.

(College magazine: Xaverian X-press)

In August 2009, I secured an exclusive interview with Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party.

Here are excerpts from my interview published in Xaverian-Xpress, the official college magazine for Xaverian College, located on Lower Park Road, Rusholme.

Will you be committing the party to any new policies at the Liberal Democrat conference?

It’s a democratic forum, and I can’t be certain what will or won’t be voted through, but I hope we’ll be passing a lot of important new policies. We’ll be looking at ways to protect consumers from greedy banks and businesses, ways of generating electricity from tidal energy and at protecting our civil liberties. There will also be policies on stopping MPs abusing their expenses, improving our rail network and better support for our armed forces.

What are your thoughts on MPs who ‘tweet’ during sessions in the House of Commons?

I prefer to concentrate on the debate. Twitter’s better when you’re out and about. Parliament is on the television if people want to know what’s going on.

Gordon Brown’s continued mantra in PMQs is that “The Liberal Democrats have no policy for jobs, no policy for growth and no policy for housing.” Is this the case and is the Prime Minister telling the truth when he says this?

The Liberal Democrats are the only party with a clear plan to get British people back to work, rebuild the economy and build the homes people need. We’re the only ones ready to do things differently by moving away from the mistakes that got us into this mess. We want an economy that’s not just centered in London and on financial services, but strong throughout the country. And we want to build growth and jobs out of going green, so we can stop dangerous climate change.

Out of Labour and the Conservatives, which party is closer to the ideals and values of the Liberal Democrats?

I think they’re closer to each other! Both are fundamentally parties of the establishment who won’t change anything fundamental about the way our country works and that’s why nothing ever really changes when they’re in government. Liberal Democrats are different – we want a fresh start, a better way of doing things and an end to the same old mistakes.

Your party have highlighted that the recession has increased the number of people on unemployment benefits which has caused the number of cases of mental illnesses such as depression to rise. Why are the Liberal Democrats opposed to renewing Trident when this will send people to work?

We do not need the comprehensive Trident nuclear weapons system to protect Britain – and at a cost of up to £100bn, it is far too expensive for our needs. The government should make strategic defence decisions on the basis of protecting the country, not to make jobs for people. A far better way to create jobs for unemployed people is to invest in building new homes and renewable energy, so that we can build a new, green economy. That’s a better and more sustainable solution.

Do you believe we will still be in Afghanistan in 10, 15 or 20 years?

We could be if we don’t sort out the political strategy for building up the Afghan government, police and army. That’s why I’ve been so outspoken in arguing for better co-ordination between international forces, governments and aid agencies, so that the work our troops do leads to long-lasting peace. If we are to stop Afghanistan from being a haven for terrorism and drug traffickers, all nations need to work together.

Do you get a lot of young people visiting your surgeries?

I get a whole mix of people with all sorts of questions and problems. It’s a great way to really keep in touch with what matters to people, and often help get their issues sorted out, too. Sheffield has two big universities, so I often meet a lot of students locally too.

Many teenagers, including myself will be voting for the first time in a general election that carries huge importance for the future of this country. How can Nick Clegg ‘get down with the kids’?

I’m in my early 40s, and I don’t think it’s any use pretending otherwise. I think it’s pretty patronising to teenagers when politicians try to be ‘cool’, as if teenagers don’t have the intellect or capacity to engage with them on adult terms. I spend a lot of time out and about in the country, and my favourite thing to do is hold an open forum meeting where people can ask me any question they like. Some of the best discussions have been when we’ve had public meetings at schools or colleges and young people come along. It’s corny to say, but young people are the country’s future and I think engaging with them is one of the most important things I can do – and that means taking them seriously, not trying to be “down with the kids!”

Next Tuesday marks the first live discussion where Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg will be sitting side-by side.

Questions about how to get more women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities into parliament will be asked by several MPs. The discussion will be chaired by Commons Speaker John Bercow.

Gordon Brown will certainly relish the chance to expose what he sees as David Cameron’s lack of substance on fundamental issues of fairness and opportunity, and Nick Clegg will want to differentiate himself from the two men by what he says.

We still await an annoucement about the live televised debates, but I welcome this positive news.

I am pleased that technology is being called upon to run a web forum during the question-and-answer session.

Although, many members of the public will raise questions about impartiality, even if the session is being moderated by the Speaker.

Proceedings will be aired live on BBC Parliament next Tuesday. I urge everyone who has the time to watch it to do so; Check your TV guide for the time and make a note in your diary!

I have always thought of Nick Clegg as a pragmatic politician, a practical one, someone with some common sense. Someone who understands the working man and woman more than Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Or at least this is the impression that he gives.

Mr Clegg has asked public sector workers such as doctors and teachers to come up with innovative ways of saving money.

The Liberal Democrat leader is also looking at saving billions of pounds through reducing the cost of hospital operations. Incidentally, President Barack Obama has talked about how billions of dollars can be saved through health care reform. Such savings raise cynicism and doubt among the British public, but Mr Clegg must be commended for talking about this. Mr Clegg’s suggestions do not sound like the fuzzy ideas of Mr Cameron who wants to find money from scrapping ID Cards here and abolishing the NHS database there.

It does say something about our politics when the man in Number 10 should be talking about working with the public sector to find ways of saving money, and the Leader of the Opposition is not exactly saying much either.

I have always been puzzled by how Nick Clegg does not manage to get his speeches and policy announcements on to news channels.

Gordon Brown and David Cameron will always be at the top of the news order in terms of political headlines, but maybe Mr Clegg could have tried harder.

Maybe he is taking his message to his Twitter page because he believes that the Liberal Democrats may steal some Labour votes at the general election.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said that the Liberal Democrats are the only party who can create jobs, build homes and produce growth in the economy.

He said that his party “were the only ones who were willing to do things differently and move away from the mistakes that got us into the mess.”

Mr Clegg told Samson Dada that “we want an economy that’s not just centred in London and financial services, but strong throughout the country.”

He added that a Liberal Democrat agenda would be to “build growth and jobs out of going green, so we can stop dangerous climate change.”

Mr Clegg criticised the lack of change that would come about even if the Conservatives were to come to power.

“I think they’re closer to each other! Both are fundamentally parties of the establishment who won’t change anything fundamental about the way our country works and that’s why nothing ever really changes when they’re in government.

“Liberal Democrats are different – we want a fresh start, a better way of doing things and an end to the same old mistakes.”

“Actually, I feel more than ever that we’re continuing on the way up. There have been highlights in the last few months – winning citizenship rights for the Gurkhas, standing up against the abuse of expenses, speaking out for our troops in Afghanistan.

“At every step, more and more people are seeing something in the Liberal Democrats they believe in, and supporting us. And I see that trend continuing all through the year until the General Election.”

When asked about whether Britain could have a military presence in Afghanistan in another 10, 15 or 20 years he expressed concerns that “we could be if we don’t sort out the political strategy for building up the Afghan government, police and army.”

He added: “That’s why I’ve been so outspoken in arguing for better coordination between international forces, governments and aid agencies, so that the work our troops do leads to long-lasting peace.

“If we are to stop Afghanistan from being a haven for terrorism and drug traffickers, all nations need to work together.”

He maintained that the Trident nuclear defence system was too expensive, following his call in June for it to be scrapped when it expires in 2024, and argued that the money saved could be spent on employment, housing and renewable sources of energy.

“We do not need the comprehensive Trident nuclear weapons system to protect Britain – and at a cost of up to £100bn, it is far too expensive for our needs. The government should make strategic defence decisions on the basis of protecting the country, not to make jobs for people.

“A far better way to create jobs for unemployed people is to invest in building new homes and renewable energy, so that we can build a new, green economy. That’s a better and more sustainable solution.”

At the party conference in Bournemouth this September, Mr Clegg said that the party would be “looking at ways to protect consumers from greedy banks and businesses, at generating electricity from tidal energy and at protecting our civil liberties.”

He added: “There will also be policies on stopping MPs abusing their expenses, improving our rail network and better supporting our armed forces.”

Mr Clegg said that a lot of youngsters visit his constituency surgery in Sheffield Halham.

“I get a whole mix of people with all sorts of questions and problems. It’s a great way to really keep in touch with what matters to people, and often help get their issues sorted out, too. Sheffield has two big universities, so I often meet a lot of students locally, in particular.”

He believes that England can still win the Ashes, despite their humiliating defeat at Headingley on Sunday which levelled the series with one more test to play.

“The less said about Headingley the better, but I still believe that the team that played so well earlier this summer can regain the Ashes at the Oval. Having Freddie Flintoff back in the team will certainly help!”

According to Mr Clegg, Vince Cable isn’t the only dancer within the Liberal Democrat cabinet, remarking that “I’ve seen a few of them shaking their stuff on the dance floor at party conference!”

He revealed that he hoped to catch up on some reading over the summer recess.

“I’ve got a few books in my suitcase. I’ve got Gilead by Margaret Robinson that lots of family and friends have recommended. A bit of political reading too – The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.

“And I’m hoping to get the chance to re-read The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa, one of my favourite books of all time.”

Next year’s general election will see many teenagers voting for the first time, so I put the question to Mr Clegg about how he can ‘get down with the kids.’

He said: I’m in my early 40s, and I don’t think it’s any use pretending otherwise. And I think it’s pretty patronising to teenagers when politicians or whoever try to be ‘cool’, as if teenagers don’t have the intellect or capacity to engage with them on adult terms.

“I spend a lot of time out and about in the country, and my favourite thing to do is hold an open forum meeting where people can ask me any question they like. Some of the best discussions have been when we’ve done these public meetings at schools or colleges and got young people along.

Mr Clegg added: “It’s corny to say, but young people are the country’s future and I think engaging with them is one of the most important things I can do – and that means taking people seriously, not trying to be “down with the kids”!

Gordon Brown has been attacked left, right and centre for trying to spend billions of pounds on a stimulus package to get us out of the recession.

David Cameron has talked about how government should balance their budget- live within their means for want of a better word.

I like fiscal responsibility. Problem is cash has been injected into just about every area.

Then, I think to myself why do not enough people pay attention to the Liberal Democrats.

During the 2005 general election, back when I knew nothing about politics, I thought Charles Kennedy might just do better at the election. He was talking about abolishing university tuition fees.

But, why am I warming more closer to Britain’s third choice party who have less than 20% of national polling?

What makes the Liberal Democrats stand out from other parties is that when Labour announce an unfavourable policy, the Tories use the best adjectives and colourful rhetoric to criticise it, but little solution.

Although to be fair, the Tories have started to pick themselves up a little.

But, Nick Clegg does not only criticise a policy, but he offers a solution that when you read it actually sounds logical and coherent.

While Cameron was telling Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine programme that the VAT Cut has been a “unbelievable and expensive failure” to add to his ‘tax bombshell’  jibe the great  Treasury spokesman Vince Cable offered criticism and oh…yes a logical and coherent statement.

“The government is completely paralysed at this crucial moment” was the criticism.

“Ministers should consider promoting a simple, standardised mortgage with a market guarantee for the first few years of interest payments in order to help first-time buyers who can genuinely afford to take on home ownership” indicated to me some sort of idea.

Nick Clegg says that the government’s £12.5 billion VAT Cut could be spent on better things.

Creating jobs through investments to make schools, hospitals and homes greener.

Another thing about the Liberal Democrats is that they are forseeing things that the opposition and the government are not.

Last year, in an exclusive interview Vince Cable told me that “the credit crunch is an inevitable consequence of the binge of irresponsible lending and excessive financial complexity. It has produced the most serious financial crisis in my lifetime which will surely get worse before it gets better. “

Clegg also presented warning signs:

“The British economy is now teetering on the brink of recession as the credit crunch starts to bite.

“As people tighten their belts in the face of high food, fuel and debt costs, it is inevitable that growth will fall.

“We are now facing the consequences of an economy which has been driven on the back of an unsustainable level of debt for several years.

“As the credit binge ends, we are now feeling the hangover.

“After years of ignoring the instabilities in the economy, Gordon Brown must act now to stop a slowdown becoming a serious recession which could affect the prosperity of present and future generations.”

The current state of the government and the official opposition does not in the slightest reflect the order of their policies.

The Liberal Democrats are certainly showing more responsibility than the Tories.

The problem is they have is that the electorate just assumes that  they only have two mainstream parties of Labour and the Conservative Party.

The Liberal Democrats’ quotes are always  at the end of an article.

Clegg should instruct Cable or one of his trusted team to write regular national articles clearly setting out what the party is about and how they can make things work.

They need to get out there.

This is their chance.

Gordon Brown has begun laying his economic plan to haul Britain out of a looming “recession.”

Addressing business leaders and fellow academics at Imperial College, London, Gordon Brown maintained that increasing government borrowing to repair what is a fractured economy was the right and quote “responsible” thing to do.

The government has said that it would be wrong to stop public spending in key areas such as education, training, energy efficiency or tax cuts for “hard pressed families.” A perfectly acceptable statement. After all, who would not want further spending in these vital areas? But the problem is that finances are in a ridiculous state of disrepair, and the government is pulling itself into a deeper, unprecedented pool of debt.

It has not been welcomed with open harms and it is not so hard to see why. It was always going to be hard to sell this one to the public.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the latest quarterly figures have revealed that the government has borrowed £37.6bn. The intentions may be honourable but when will such money be cleared? Is money always the answer?

One thing that continues to harm Gordon Brown is that in his 10 years running the economic show as Chancellor of the Exchequer he said he would end “boom and bust.”  Boom came, but unfortunately bust has ripped into people’s lives.

Yesterday, a group of 16 economists signed a letter to the Sunday Telegraph warning against “misguided” government spending. Another problem is that while negative growth is at worrying levels, Britain have not officially entered a recession. So is it necessary to press ahead in pumping millions of pounds into many different projects?

Opposition parties have also continued to rip into Gordon Brown’s increase in spending.

George Osborne says that “Gordon Brown is a man with a overdraft, not a man with a plan.” His boss, David Cameron said that “he was a man with a plan” at his keynote conference speech, but there has been too much rhetoric and very little specific substance.

Chancellor Alistair Darling is set to use a major speech on Wednesday to get announce the end of fiscal rules such as Brown’s “golden rule” to invest in an economic cycle.

Vince Cable, I want to hear you say more.

The Conservatives are missing a chance to grab the win the hearts and minds of the electorate and undecided voters. Labour cannot really be trusted with people’s money anymore.

What can be done to tackle the recession? Is increased spending the answer? Who out of Brown/Darling Cameron/Osborne and Clegg/Cable has the solutions to face the economic crises head on?