Nick Clegg: No Other Country Has Punched Itself in the Face Like Britain

Nick Clegg speaks the truth and eminent good sense.

Sir Nick Clegg in Conversation with Geordie Greig

Jul 10, 2026 | Former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg has given an exclusive Talk Show interview to The Independent editor-in-chief Geordie Greig.

Sir Nick, deputy prime minister in the 2010-15 Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government, spoke exclusively to The Independent as part of its Europe:

The Way Back campaign marks the tenth anniversary of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Sir Nick compared Brexit to a “massive cardiac arrest”.

“Much of the rest of the world has had to deal with things like Covid, wars in Ukraine, Iran and so on,” said Sir Nick. “But no other country has punched itself in the face quite so forcefully as we have done over the last 10 to 20 years.


When Nick Clegg joined the Conservatives, I voted for him. That was the very first time that I had ever voted for any party other than the Conservatives. I couldn’t vote for the Conservatives with David Cameron as its leader because he came over as being rather slippery. My misgivings about him proved to be remarkably accurate!

Even though I was raised as a Conservative, I doubt that I shall ever vote Conservative again: the Party can never ever again be trusted after the débâcle of Brexit. The Conservatives also destroyed NHS Dentistry with its never ending, but useless and ineffectual, austerity. I shall never forgive them for that, either.

It is such a pity that the LibDems don’t have a leader as pro-EU as Nick Clegg. If that were the case, I wouldn’t find myself disenfranchised as I now do. Because of David Cameron et al, this country has truly hit rock bottom. — © Mark Alexander

UK Will Rejoin EU by 2036, Says Former Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg

Jun 23, 2026 | Former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg has predicted the UK will rejoin the European Union within the next decade, likely around 2036.

Clegg argues that Brexit has created ongoing political instability and that the country must eventually acknowledge the "catastrophic mistake" to move forward.

”The UK Is Living a Lie over Brexit”

Nick Clegg speaks the truth about that ghastly man, Nigel Farage.

Silicon Valley Is Full of Wealthy Men Who Think They’re Victims, Says Nick Clegg

THE GUARDIAN: Former Lib Dem leader and Meta strategist writes in new book that power in tech capital is interlaced with ‘self pity’

Silicon Valley is full of hubris and hugely wealthy and macho men who think they are victims, the former politician and Facebook executive Nick Clegg has said.

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats makes the claim in a new book chronicling his three careers as an MEP in Brussels, an MP and deputy prime minister in Westminster and as a communications and public policy strategist in San Francisco.

In an interview with the Guardian, Clegg heaped praise on his former boss, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and chief executive of Meta, but was scathing of the culture fostered in the tech capital of the world where he said wealth and power was interlaced with “self pity”.

“In Silicon Valley, far from thinking they’re lucky, they think they’re hard done by, [that] they’re victims. I couldn’t, and still can’t, understand this deeply unattractive combination of machismo and self-pity.

He said: “It is a cultural thing, through from Elon Musk’s chainsaw-wielding stuff to any Silicon Valley podcast. If you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.”

…

His new book, How to Save the Internet, goes behind the scenes at Meta and provides insight into how Silicon Valley’s insularity has blinded it to its missteps. “Everyone wears the same clothes, drives the same cars, listens to the same podcasts, follows the same fads,” Clegg said. “It’s a place born of immense sort of herd-like behaviour.” » | Lisa O’Carroll and Gaby Hinsliff | Saturday, August 23, 2025

‘If the people who ran Facebook were monsters, I wouldn’t have worked there’: Nick Clegg on tech bros, Trump and leaving Silicon Valley »

Nick Clegg on Brexit: 'We Should Retain the Freedom to Change Our Minds'

Angry, Uninformed Brexit Loonies Rage about Nick Clegg's Brussels Trip

Nick Clegg: 'Brexit-obsessed Government Isn't Doing Its Day Job' - BBC Newsnight

Nick Clegg gives Emily Maitlis his thoughts on the snap general election. Newsnight is the BBC's flagship news and current affairs TV programme - with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.

Nick Clegg Speaking On Stage at United for Europe

Owen Jones Meets Nick Clegg | 'I Warned David Cameron Over Failing Brexit Strategy'

Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister and ardent remainer, tells me he emailed David Cameron to tell him he was running a ‘bloodless’ campaign as the European Union referendum came to a climax. But, Clegg says, Cameron rejected his advice to deliver a more emotional message to combat the powerful Brexit slogan of ‘take back control’. The former leader of the Liberal Democrats went on to express his disbelief at Theresa May’s ‘hard Brexit’ strategy.

We also discussed his record in coalition government alongside the Conservative party led by David Cameron, the anger at the perceived betrayal over tuition fees, the bedroom tax and the raising of the income tax threshold.

Nick Clegg Interview In Full – Newsnight (2015)

Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg talks to Evan Davis about the EU referendum, and his biggest regret from his time in government - which he jokes is sitting next to David Cameron during PMQs and saying nothing.

Former Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg Says May Needs a Vision for Brexit

Nick Clegg Speaking to Lib Dems on 1st July 16

Nick Clegg Should Do 'Donkey Work' for Five Years to 'Repay' Party for Failure, Says Former Lib Dem MP

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Former Deputy PM told it would be an 'insult' if he quit parliament for Europe or the Lords as his legacy becomes central topic in leadership race


Nick Clegg must "repay" his party for taking them into government by doing "the donkey work of being a good constituency MP" for the next five years, furious Liberal Democrats have said.

Amid rumours that Mr Clegg is considering stepping down as an MP after leading the party to electoral wipeout, Lib Dems have told The Telegraph he must serve as a backbencher to atone for his disastrous decision to form a coalition.

It comes as the strategist credited with turning the Lib Dems into a party of government criticised Mr Clegg for repeating the “mistakes” of previous campaigns.

Lord Rennard, the Lib Dem peer, said there was “real anger” the party had lost so many MPs after talking about forming coalitions rather than its vision for the country before the vote.

A fierce battle over Mr Clegg’s legacy as party leader is due to take place over the coming weeks as the remaining Lib Dems decide who should be his succcessor. » | Ben Riley-Smith, Political Correspondent | Sunday, May 10, 2015

Nick Clegg Blocks Terror Laws Banning Extremists from Universities

Mr Clegg said he could not support the new legislation

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Laws to ban extremist speakers have been blocked by the Liberal Democrats for fears of "eroding" free speech after one of the worst Cabinet rows of the Coalition

Nick Clegg has blocked tough new laws intended to stop extremist speakers brainwashing university students for terrorism, raising fears that Britain will be left more vulnerable to attack.

The Deputy Prime Minister personally vetoed the plan during private talks with David Cameron, after one of the worst Cabinet rows in the Coalition’s five-year rule.

Mr Clegg said he could not support moves to require university bosses to vet visiting speakers and prevent impressionable students from falling under the spell of extremists – because Liberal Democrats feared the move would erode “free speech”.

Draft legal guidelines detailing how the ban would work, which were published by the Home Office in December, have now been scrapped. Senior government sources warned that students would remain at risk of radicalisation by preachers visiting campus Islamic societies. » | Tim Ross and Robert Mendick | Saturday, March 14, 2015

Nick Clegg Silences Radio Caller Who Tries to Justify Charlie Hebdo Shootings

Read the Pnik News article here | Joseph Patrick McCormick | Thursday, January 08, 2015

Iraq News: Tony Blair Airbrushing Role in Creating Isis in Iraq, Nick Clegg Says

Members of the Islam State of Iraq and Shaam (ISIS) with
senior commander Abu Waheeb

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Tony Blair is 'pretending' the 2003 invasion is not the current cause of Iraq chaos, Deputy PM says

Tony Blair is attempting to “airbrush” his role in creating the violence engulfing Iraq, Nick Clegg has said.

The former Prime Minister is engaged in a “pointless academic exercise” to “pretend” the 2003 invasion of Iraq did not contribute to chaos and bloodshed consuming Iraq today.

Jihadist fighters from ISIS, an al-Qaeda aligned force, have entered from Syria and seized a string of Iraqi cities, committing massacres of Iraqi Army prisoners.

Britain will not provide “frontline” military support to the Iraqi government but will provide "passive assistance" to the United States in the case of airstrikes, Mr Clegg indicated.


Asked at his monthly press conference whether Britain would allow the United States to use airbases or airspace, Mr Clegg said: “We will not be providing active, frontline military resources to any action taken.

"But of course we will talk to America about what can be done. We are not going to stand in the way of military action that is well-judged and well-targeted to try and reassert some semblance of order in Iraq. I am certainly not suggesting we rule out passive assistance, even if we are not going to embark on active assistance.”

Only the United States has the military capacity to strike in Iraq and Britain should not “pretend” that it can, Mr Clegg said. » | Matthew Holehouse, Political Correspondent | Monday, June 16, 2014

Clegg Under Pressure To Sack 'Disloyal’ Cable

Business Secretary Vince Cable (right) with Leader of Liberal
Democrats Nick Clegg

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Senior Liberal Democrats say Vince Cable should be stripped of his economic affairs title over plot to undermine Nick Clegg

Vince Cable should be stripped of his role as the Liberal Democrats’ voice on economic affairs over his links to a plot to undermine Nick Clegg, colleagues have said.

Senior Lib Dems are pushing Mr Clegg to sideline Mr Cable in the party’s general election campaign next year, giving control of economic policy to loyal younger ministers.

That could mean Mr Cable is denied a role in any pre-election television debates or a major position in any new coalition government the Lib Dems might join next year.

Mr Cable, the Business Secretary, is facing questions about his loyalty this week after it emerged that Lord Oakeshott, a friend and political ally, had secretly commissioned opinion polls that suggested the Lib Dems would win more votes if they ditched Mr Clegg.

Lord Oakeshott has said he told Mr Cable about some of his polling several weeks ago. Some Lib Dems say Mr Cable failed to stop “treacherous” moves to remove Mr Clegg and take his job. » | James Kirkup, and Georgia Graham | Thursday, May 29, 2014

Vince Cable Accused of Leadership Bid after 'Shambolic Coup'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Vince Cable, the business secretary, accused of having leadership ambitions after admitting he knew that his ally Lord Oakeshott was conducting secret general election polls

Vince Cable has been accused of trying to "take the reins" of the Liberal Democrat party after he was implicated in a "shambolic coup" to oust Nick Clegg.

The business secretary admitted he knew that his friend and party peer Lord Oakeshott had privately commissioned polls which were later used to try and undermine Mr Clegg’s position.

But in a statement addressing allegations of a plot Mr Cable failed to offer Mr Clegg his backing or endorsement.

One of the Lib Dem's leading figures accused Cable of trying to "take the reins" of the party and said that Mr Cable has "leadership ambitions".

However, in what critics described as a sign of weakness following his party’s wipeout in the local and European elections, Mr Clegg failed to sack or even condemn Mr Cable.

His decision led to further turmoil in the Liberal Democrats after a week in which MPs have called on Mr Clegg to stand aside and let Mr Cable take over. » | Steven Swinford, Senior Political Correspondent | Wednesday, May 28, 2014

We Need Nick Clegg – Demanding His Resignation Is Absurd

'Nick Clegg and his colleagues in the coalition have been blamed
for many of its actions, even those they privately opposed.'

THE GUARDIAN: The Liberal Democrats are lucky to have such an able and committed leader – and one with a lot to be proud of

Nick Clegg has been a principled, honourable and brave leader of the Liberal Democrats. He has borne criticism, even insult and abuse, with remarkable grace, maintaining a political position based on reason and on strongly held values. Such politicians are rare. It would be absurd to demand his resignation now because some parliamentary candidates think that bowing to a populist anti-Europe campaign would somehow win their seats for them. As for polling in four seats reported today by the Guardian, the survey was conducted throughout April, undermining its credibility – and was clearly commissioned and leaked for political purposes. » | Shirley Williams | Tuesday, May 27, 2014