There are plenty of questions about what Ed Miliband stands for but that is a question for tomorrow, with his speech on the economy on Tuesday morning. Today, another party leader is going to provide some self-definition. Nick Clegg is holding a press conference later today with the prime ministers of Estonia and Holland. I will be going along to see what he has to say.
The presser forms part of Clegg’s plan to ‘get back on the front foot’ on Europe as he described it when I spoke to him at his Christmas drinks. The Liberal Democrat leader has to promote a more positive vision of the EU, following David Cameron’s ending of Britain’s involvement in treaty talks. Calling for the countries to ‘pull together’ to save jobs and promote economic growth, Clegg needs to address concerns in his party, particularly from the House of Lords, that he is not doing enough to stick up for a Europhile vision in the government.
But getting on the front foot could also apply to Clegg himself. It was striking that when questioned on today’s Daily Politics, ambitious young Lib Dem MP Duncan Hames, who is also PPS to Chris Huhne, mentioned the pupil premium and raising the tax threshold for what the Lib Dems are achieving in government. He didn’t, or couldn’t, mention anything new for 2012.
Perhaps more details will emerge but Nick Clegg needs to avoid looking like a spare part. If the major narrative of this year is relatively stable for the government, with the economy and growth being the major battleground, David Cameron has now picked up the mantle of taking the fight to Alex Salmond on the union. We don’t know what Nick Clegg’s personal mission for 2012 will be. It won’t be constitutional reform, which appears to be suffering a slow death and as everyone, including Lib Dem MPs admit, ‘doesn’t win one vote’. Clegg’s decision not to run a major ministry in the coalition is often viewed as an error – because he lacks a grand personal project. It’s a political cliché that Tony Blair arrived in office and didn’t know what to do. The Deputy Prime Minister must ensure he doesn’t look like he’s sitting in office with nothing to do.
Comments
Susan / January 09 2012 6:25pm
I would tell you, but you wouldn't print my answer. His speech is now being widely reported and, suffice to say, he hasn't managed to avoid your "spare part" label. The man needs to go; he has never defended the interests of this country. He is a bought-and-sold Eurocrat.