Tories must stop squabbling and start governing says Clegg

Nick Clegg today called on the Conservative Party to “get back to governing” after the divisive rows over Europe and gay marriage as he insists the Coalition will stay the course until 2015.
Deputy prime minister Nick CleggDeputy prime minister Nick Clegg
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg

In a speech in Westminster today, Mr Clegg insisted that he and Mr Cameron are both “absolutely committed” to governing in coalition through to 2015.

The Deputy Prime Minister laid into Tory backbenchers “consumed by game playing” after a week dominated by revolts over Europe and gay marriage and rejected any move to the right.

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But he dismissed talk of an early break-up of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat administration and called for a refocus on the economy.

Deputy prime minister Nick CleggDeputy prime minister Nick Clegg
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg

And he indicated that he expects to remain Deputy Prime Minister right through the six weeks of campaigning up to the day of the 2015 poll.

Suggestions that the coalition could split before the general election were fuelled at the weekend by an interview in which the Prime Minister raised the prospect of governing alone.

Mr Cameron told Total Politics magazine that despite some “frustrations”, the coalition remained the best way to get things done.

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“But if that wasn’t the case then we’d have to face the new circumstances in whatever way we should,” he added.

But Mr Clegg today insisted that he and the Prime Minister were convinced that “the best way for us to serve and improve Britain is by finishing what we started.”

He declared: “I am absolutely committed to this coalition lasting until 2015 - as is the Prime Minister.”

Claims that it was in either or both parties’ interest to “prematurely pull the plug” were wrong, he suggested.

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Voters “will not forgive either party if we call time ahead of the election that has been legislated for in 2015 - destabilising the nation in the vague hope of short-term political gain”.

Nor would it work for the Lib Dems to try to “pull the wool over people’s eyes” and win back critics of the coalition deal by quitting six months early.

“Liberal Democrats look forward to fighting the next election as a party of government, on our record in government, and with a distinct vision of our own for the next government - having seen this one through until the end.”

Following the recent rows over Europe and gay marriage, Mr Clegg was asked whether there was anything which could prompt him to bring the coalition to a premature end before 2015.

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He replied: “I really can’t envisage any circumstances in which I think, and my party would think, that it is the right thing to do to force people to the ballot box before time is up or to start embroiling the country in a general election campaign when we still have this important job to do to fix the economy.”

He acknowledged that he could not absolutely “guarantee” that the coalition would last until 2015, but said it was “absurd” to expect him to be able to do so.

“Can you guarantee what the weather is going to be like tomorrow?” he said. “That is an absurd question. You are asking me to predict every twist and turn of a future that hasn’t occurred yet.”

Although the coalition will next month produce joint departmental expenditure plans for the first year of the next Parliament in the spending review for 2015/16, Mr Clegg said that Conservatives and Liberal Democrats would “of course” have different policies on tax and spending in their manifestos for the 2015 election.

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He hinted strongly that he expects the “mansion tax” on homes over £2 million to feature in the Lib Dem manifesto, which he said would make clear which policies are “holy grails” for the party and which they would be prepared to seek compromise on in negotiations on a future coalition.

Asked if he would remain DPM during the election campaign, he said: “To be honest, I think the public will see me as leader of the Liberal Democrats, setting out our stall as a party about what we believe should happen in the country. But constitutionally, the Government still ticks over like any Government does, whether it’s one party or two.”

Mr Clegg hit out at Tory MPs “obsessing over this new tactic or that new trick” after more than 100 backed an amendment criticising the lack of EU referendum legislation in the Queen’s Speech and dozens attempted to scupper gay marriage reforms.

“Anyone watching would be forgiven for asking: what are these politicians doing?

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“So it’s time to get back to governing; providing the leadership and focus the people of Britain deserve in these difficult times.

“Britain is facing the most profound economic challenge in living memory. And now, more than ever, we cannot allow Parliament to be clogged up by these matters simply because they cause the biggest political punch ups.”

Mr Clegg insisted that he had never heard any senior Conservative refer to the party’s supporters as “swivel-eyed loons”, as has been reported in recent days.

He suggested that the Tories were playing into the hands of the UK Independence Party by giving such prominence to the issue of Europe.

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“If you constantly bang on about the things Ukip want to bang on about, don’t be surprised if you help Ukip,” he said. “That’s a rule of thumb in politics.”

Mr Clegg added: “As we head towards the election there will be increasing pressure on David Cameron and myself to act as party leaders as much as PM and DPM: pressure to put party before nation.

“And I don’t pretend I won’t relish the moment I can hit the campaign trail on behalf of the Liberal Democrats in the run up to the general election.

“But here’s the bigger truth: whether you are the larger or smaller party, the fact is governing together in the public interest carries a cost. Making compromises; doing things you find uncomfortable; challenging some of your traditional support - these are the dilemmas the Conservatives are coming to terms with, just as my party has had to.

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“The next two years will not be without their hurdles and no doubt there will be disagreements between the coalition parties along the way. Let’s be clear: sincere policy debates and ideological differences are, and will continue to be, a part of coalition.

“But the parliamentary game playing we’ve seen over the last few weeks discredits the importance of these issues, and it’s an unwelcome distraction.”