Clegg: ‘I’m not a punchbag’
By Ian Dunt
Nick Clegg has given his most outspoken interview yet as deputy prime minister, hitting out at those who use him as a punchbag.
Speaking to friend Jemima Khan for the New Statesman, Mr Clegg admitted that he was emotionally affected by the vitriol directed at him and that he worried about its effect on his children.
“Look, I’m a human being, I’m not a punchbag – I’ve of course got feelings,” he said.
His nine-year-old son is starting to “sense things”, he added, and recently asked: “Why are the students angry with you, Papa?”
The Liberal Democrat leader admitted to feeling “quite miserable” when he doesn’t get the work/life balance right and to crying regularly to music.
On the increasingly brutal language directed at him from Labour leader Ed Miliband, Mr Clegg said: “I see it exactly for what it is. [Ed] is a perfectly nice guy but he has a problem, which is that he’s not in control of his own party, so he constantly has to keep his troops happy and he thinks that ranting and raving at me is the way to do it.”
But Mr Clegg was more detailed in his assessment of his relationship with the prime minister, with whom he becomes increasingly close as the coalition continues.
He was recently overheard telling David Cameron that they would not have anything to disagree on by the time of the televised debates at the next election.
“We don’t regard each other as mates and actually I don’t think it would be a particularly healthy thing if we tried to become personal mates,” he said.
“I don’t think a coalition works unless you have a very careful balance between mutual respect and civility and also a certain hardness, as at the end of the day you are representing different views.”
Asked about his views on Mr Cameron’s decision to see News International figures like Rebekah Brooks socially while the decision on the BSkyB deal was being made, Mr Clegg responded: “Well, I’m assuming that they weren’t sitting there talking about News International issues.
“Look, you’re putting me in a very awkward spot. If you’ve got an issue with it, speak to Dave.
“I don’t hang out in Oxfordshire at dinner parties. It’s not my world. It’s never going to be my world.”
The deputy prime minister’s popularity has waned spectacularly since the heady days of ‘Cleggmania’ last summer, especially after he backed a tripling of tuition fees.
But a win in the AV referendum next month could reverse his fortunes, aides hope.
