Grant Woodward: Coalition knives may be out for Clegg but do not dismiss his achievements

Remember those televised debates before the last General Election, when the buzz phrase became “I agree with Nick”? Well, now they’re lining up to knife him in the back.

This week’s latest assault on the Deputy Prime Minister was the most invective-filled one yet. “A man whose name is a byword for cheap sanctimony, opportunism, gimmicks and lying... All Clegg ever cares about in meetings is politics – never policy. He loves the chauffeurs and people greasing up to him and he will try anything to cling onto a cushy job if Miliband wins.”

Who did this attack come from? None other than an “unnamed source” within the Sheffield Hallam MP’s own coalition Government. And what was Mr Clegg’s heinous crime? To question the Tory policy of allowing free schools to employ staff regardless of whether or not they possess the relevant teaching qualifications.

But then in light of the farce at the Al-Madinah free school in Derby, labelled “dysfunctional” by inspectors who rated it inadequate in every category, was he not right to raise concerns?

Last week’s Ofsted report – brought forward after fears were raised over teaching standards at the school – said staff were inexperienced and had not been provided with proper training.

Whether you think Michael Gove’s flagship project is a breath of fresh air in a stale education system or a dangerous ideological experiment with our children as its guinea pigs, it’s hard to disagree with Nick Clegg’s point that what happened must raise serious questions about how much freedom free schools are given.

For all the brickbats aimed in his direction, Mr Clegg has, at crucial times, provided a much-needed voice of reason and moderation. He’s the political equivalent of Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls, providing the “lukewarm water” in the middle of two extremes.

Public appetite for another coalition government may be all but non-existent, but it’s perhaps worth taking a few minutes to think what might have happened without him.

The Snoopers’ Charter, or Draft Communications Data Bill to give it its proper title – with its disproportionate surveillance powers that posed a threat to public privacy – wouldn’t be dead in the water, while millionaires would be enjoying a cut in inheritance tax.

Yorkshire workers would be feeling the effect of regional pay structures penalising public sector workers in the North, and employers would be busy exploiting a rolling back of employment law to fire staff without any explanation.

But perhaps the Lib Dems’ most sizeable achievement since that May day in the Downing Street rose garden is in cutting income tax bills by an average of £700 and taking almost three million people on low wages out of paying income tax altogether.

Given that David Cameron questioned whether such a move was even possible during the TV debates three years ago, it is easy to see why his rush to try to claim credit for it has raised the Lib Dems’ hackles.

As Nick Clegg recalled in his conference speech last month: “David Cameron turned to me, in front of the whole country, and said: ‘I would love to take everyone out of their first £10,000 of income tax Nick, but we cannot afford it’.”

The fact is it could be afforded and now David Cameron is keen to use the tax break, which comes into effect next April, as a means to fend off continuing accusations that the Tories are simply a party for the rich.

To rub yet more salt in the wound, the Conservatives also stand accused of trying to steal the Lib Dems’ flagship policy for the next General Election – the bid to raise the personal tax allowance to £12,500.

No wonder Danny Alexander, the quietly impressive Lib Dem Chief Treasury Secretary, felt the need to speak out this month in a desperate bid to reclaim the policy for his party.

The bad news for Nick Clegg is that such important distinctions are getting drowned out by the common view of the Lib Dems 
as mercenaries who are quite happy to hitch their wagon to whichever party gives them the best chance of staying in Government.

The u-turn over tuition fees, the Alternative Vote shambles and Vince Cable’s increasingly eccentric uncle act all contribute to a sense that the Lib Dems are a bunch of opportunistic basket cases who should be turfed out of Downing Street as soon as is humanly possible.

But perhaps history will be more kind to Nick Clegg. In times of crisis, coalitions – whether in war or peace – can do a pretty good job of pulling a country through.

Despite the understandable misgivings when Lib Dems and Tories joined forces, the coalition has brought a surprising amount of stability and balance throughout the task of tackling the greatest financial crisis in living memory.

Without it the austerity cuts may well have come thicker
and faster, while the investment in infrastructure that has
helped nurture the first glimmers of renewed confidence may
not have been quite so forthcoming.

Given that things are likely to remain tough until at least 2018, it is time for Nick Clegg to start convincing the country that another coalition featuring the Lib Dems would be in Britain’s best interests.

The question, three years down the line, is whether anyone is still willing to listen.

Grant Woodward