THE GUARDIAN: Lib Dem leader admits party taking brunt of anger at coalition amid worst local elections performance in 30 yearsThe Liberal Democrats appear to have suffered their worst performance at the polls in 30 years, suffering heavy losses across the north of England, Scotland and Wales.
Nick Clegg admitted his party was taking the brunt of the blame for a perception that the coalition government is dragging Britain back to the Thatcherism of the 1980s.
The Liberal Democrat leader and deupty prime minister said the party had taken "big knocks" in the local elections.
"Clearly what happened last night – especially in those parts of the country, Scotland, Wales, the great cities of the north, where there are real anxieties about the deficit reduction plans we are having to put in place ... we are clearly getting the brunt of the blame," he told reporters.
"To the many families in those parts of the country especially there are some very strong memories of what life was like under Thatcherism of the 1980s and that's what they fear they are returning to. We need to get up, dust ourselves down and move on." » | Polly Curtis, Patrick Wintour and Hélène Mulholland | Friday, May 06, 2011
