i Editor's Letter: Nick Clegg was damned either way
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
“It seems to me that it’s just preposterous, the idea that if a party comes third in terms of the number of votes, it still has the right to carry on squatting in No 10.” That was Nick Clegg two weeks before the last general election. (He was talking about Gordon Brown’s Labour.)
Now the Deputy Prime Minister asks us for another five years.
Mr Clegg, it is easy to forget, was damned either way: hold a minority government hostage while getting nothing in return, or accept the responsibility of sharing power, with the betrayal of manifesto that entailed. He will not be forgiven by supporters burnt by the raising of tuition fees or reforms of the NHS. But in his polished performance yesterday, Mr Clegg listed some tangible achievements in government: blocking the “Snooper’s Charter”, inheritance tax cuts for millionaires, regional pay bargaining and the revival of O-levels. He lauded the rise in personal tax-free earnings to £10,000, something in which many Conservatives now take pride. Credit to Mssrs Cameron and Clegg for carefully managing their imperfect alliance. But asking the electorate for a mandate to compromise again, as Mr Clegg now does, will be a hard sell.
Our Arts Editor, David Lister, and design wallah, Nick Donaldson, are sprucing up i’s Friday arts and entertainment section. At the moment we bring you five pages of potted reviews and listings. From next month, every Friday morning, we will also carry film and music interviews and new columns on television, comedy, and rock and pop – a meatier read for you ahead of the weekend. We look forward to hearing what you think.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments