Clegg plays patriot games with attack on ‘little England’ Ukip

The Lib Dem leader used his keynote address at the party’s spring conference in York yesterday to attack the “stuffy parochialism” of Ukip leader Nigel Farage and his “little England” approach to the wider world.

With the two leaders only weeks away from a live televised debate on Britain’s future in Europe, Mr Clegg set out a radically different world view to that of his Ukip opponent, one shrouded in the old-fashioned liberalism he said “makes this nation great”.

“While we may be an island, we have always looked beyond our shores,” Mr Clegg said.

“Throughout our history, when we have seen trouble in the world we haven’t just looked the other way; we haven’t just crossed to the other side of the street.

“Britain doesn’t peer out at the rest of the world and shrug its shoulders. We are always at our best when we play our part.”

With the European Parliament elections now less than three months away, debate over Europe has dominated proceedings in York throughout the weekend.

On Friday night Lib Dem President Tim Farron delivered a stinging attack on Mr Farage, insisting there is “nothing patriotic” about risking British jobs, investment and status by demanding exit from the European Union. Yesterday Mr Clegg built on the theme, seeking to reclaim the patriotic mantle from Ukip.

“There are few nations as open-minded and warm-hearted as ours,” the Sheffield Hallam MP said. “Smart, funny, compassionate. Always changing, always evolving. Humble enough to understand that we must work with others. Confident enough to lead.

“For me it is these qualities that make this nation great – these great liberal qualities. Not some sepia-tinted memory of Empire. Not some stuffy parochialism dressed up as patriotism.”

Mr Clegg used his 30-minute address to set out his own patriotic credentials, telling delegates: “I love Britain”.

“I love it for all its contradictions,” he said. “I love that we are as modest as we are proud.

“I love the way we can cherish our traditions, yet innovate relentlessly, churning out one ingenious invention after the next.”

Mr Clegg went further, listing a colourful and diverse list of his favourite aspects of British life, taking in everything from the insomniacs across the land who tune into the shipping forecast each night, to the brave souls who don T-shirts and flip-flops at the first glimpse of sunshine.

“I love that we insist on queuing when we go abroad – even when the locals don’t,” he added.

Building on the theme of his interview with The Yorkshire Post on Saturday, Mr Clegg also resolutely defended his party’s record in Government, telling delegates there would be “no recovery without the Liberal Democrats”.

“Don’t let anyone airbrush out our role,” he said. “Thanks to the heroic efforts and sacrifices of millions of people we have been able to pull this country back from the brink. Under extraordinary pressure, we have achieved extraordinary things.

“And no matter what our critics say, when the history books are written they will say that, most extraordinary of all, the country was put back on the right track by a party which had never been in Government before – but which had the guts and the courage to do what it took.”

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