Gay Marriage: Ministers to Consult on Law Change
BBC: A 12-week consultation on allowing gay couples in England and Wales to marry is being launched by the government.

Ministers say it would lift another barrier to equality and give gay partners the same rights as those enjoyed by opposite sex couples.

But the proposal is fiercely opposed by some senior church figures, as well as a number of Conservative MPs.

Ben Geoghegan reports. Watch BBC video » | Thursday, March 15, 2012

BBC: Gay marriage: Nick Clegg at odds with Tory plan for free vote – Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has rejected Conservative plans to treat gay marriage as a "conscience issue" on which MPs do not follow a party line. » | Sunday,, May 27, 2012

Nick Clegg: Outdated Snobbish Attitudes Are Hobbling Society
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says the UK must abandon "outdated snobbish attitudes" in order to promote social mobility.

Nick Clegg: Public Fury at Euro Crisis Will Fuel Extremism
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A wave of “extremism and xenophobia” will sweep across Europe unless political leaders take urgent action to deal with the debt crisis, Nick Clegg has warned.

The Deputy Prime Minister predicted that arguments in Britain about whether to pull out of the European Union would be “like a small side show compared to the rise of political extremism” in the next few years.

In his bleakest assessment to date, Mr Clegg admitted that his beloved European project faces a “huge” crisis of confidence as the public loses faith in the EU “as a whole”.

Mr Clegg’s intervention followed warnings from Cabinet ministers that the eurozone debt crisis is approaching a “moment of clarity” when it is “quite likely” that Greece will be forced out of the single currency.

In an interview with the German magazine, Der Spiegel, the Liberal Democrat leader said EU nations are “condemned to work with each other” but warned that nine European governments have “fallen” since 2009.

“Everybody should be more active,” he said. “At the moment, what’s happening is you have one emergency summit after another; you have one election after the other; you have one bail out after the other.

“This cannot carry on because the combination of economic insecurity and political paralysis, we know this from the history of our continent, is the ideal recipe for an increase in extremism and xenophobia. » | Tim Ross, and James Kirkup | Monday, May 21, 2012

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Ken Clarke attacks 'nationalist' eurosceptic Tories: MPs who want a referendum on membership of the European Union are “right-wing nationalists” who would bring "disaster" to Britain, Kenneth Clarke has said. ¶ The Justice Secretary, who is regarded as the most "europhile" Conservative Cabinet minister, said calls to consider withdrawing from the EU were "a dangerous irrelevance" to the economic crisis. » | Tim Ross, Political Correspondent | Sunday, May 20, 2012

Nick Clegg: Academic Dominance of Private Schools Is Damaging Social Mobility

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The overwhelming dominance of privately-educated schoolchildren in Britain is “corrosive” for society, Nick Clegg has warned.

The sheer gulf in standards between state and independent schools is holding back social mobility and damaging the economy, according to the Deputy Prime Minister.

He said children educated in the private sector were three times more likely to achieve at least two As and B at A-level – the entry requirement for many top research universities – than pupils in state schools.

The gap in results between different school types is wider in Britain than almost any other developed country, it was revealed.

The comments were made as he prepared to launch a new drive designed to boost standards among poor children. » | Graeme Paton, Education Editor | Sunday, May 20, 2012

My comment:

First of all, they need to bring back the grammar school. Grammar schools gave children the chance of social mobility. Many children from grammar schools went on to Oxbridge, and many fine red brick universities.

Secondly, if Mr. Clegg really wants to ensure social mobility, the dumbing down of education has to stop. So, too, must grade inflation. Children need a rigorous and challenging examination system, not one driven by league tables and ever-increasing and 'wonderful' grades. Bring back the marking system which ensured that only the best achieved 'A' grades, some achieved very good, but reasonable exam results, and others failed. It's no use passing everyone with flying colours: results then come to mean nothing in the end.

Then, we should follow the Swiss system. In Switzerland, state schools are so good, and schools so well-funded that few Swiss people even want to attend the many prestigious private institutions there are in the country. There is no need for them to do so – the state system is so good. – G Mark

This comment also appears here

UK Govt Bill Opens Up NHS to Private Profiteering

Schlappe für britische Konservative bei Kommunalwahl
REUTERS DEUTSCHLAND: London - Die Briten haben die regierenden Konservativen von Premierminister David Cameron bei der Kommunalwahl für dessen drastische Sparpolitik abgestraft.

Nach Auszählung von rund der Hälfte der zur Wahl stehenden Regionalvertretungen verloren die Konservativen und die mit ihr regierenden Liberaldemokraten in England und Wales Hunderte Gemeinderäte. Die oppositionelle Labour-Partei konnte deutlich zulegen. Die rechtsgerichtete UK Independence Party verzeichnete ihr bestes Ergebnis bei einer Kommunalwahl, wie aus am Freitag veröffentlichten Ergebnissen der Wahl vom Vortag hervorging. » | Freitag, 04. Mai 2012

Related »

David Cameron: Lib Dems Were Fully Aware of 'Snooping' Plans

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: David Cameron has hit back against Liberal Democrat critics of the new internet “snooping” laws, claiming Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne approved the controversial plans.

In a put-down to his Coalition partners, the Prime Minister said it was important to “remember” that some of the most senior Liberal Democrats in Government waived [sic] through the proposals.

Ministers insist the new laws will simply widen the current scope of powers to the internet, as police and intelligence agencies are already allowed to monitor phones, letters and emails. They dispute the idea that monitoring voice calls and other communications over the internet amounts to snooping.

But prominent Liberal Democrats have expressed outrage that the changes will allow the police to have greater power to track online communications, such as Facebook and Skype.

Last week, Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, intervened to say he would block any intrusive new powers following a series of reports on the forthcoming legislation.

Tim Farron, the president of the Liberal Democrats, has even said the party is prepared to “kill” the plans, if the laws pose a “threat to a free and liberal society”. » | Rowena Mason, Political Correspondent | Tuesday, April 10, 2012

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nick Clegg denies endorsing Coalition's 'snooping' plans: The Coalition has been shaken by a row as Nick Clegg denies claims by David Cameron that he had signed up to controversial internet surveillance plans. » | Rowena Mason, Political Correspondent | Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The UK 'Snooping' Plan: Security vs. Privacy
Is the UK's new online surveillance plan an essential security tool or an unnecessary breach of personal freedoms?

Related »

Nick Clegg Promises Plans to Snoop on Emails Will Get 'Highest Possible Safeguards'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Plans to spy on every email and phone call will be subject to "the highest possible safeguards" to stop them becoming Orwellian, Nick Clegg has said.

The Deputy Prime Minister attempted to defend the Government’s new "snooping" laws, as he faces pressure from his own party and privacy campaigners over whether they constitute a breach of civil liberties.

The plans will allow police and intelligence officers to monitor who someone is in contact with and the websites they visit, although the content of communications will not be accessed.

Asked how he would protect privacy, Mr Clegg suggested the Government was open to amending its “draft” proposals, adding that "anything in this area is highly sensitive".

He claimed there would be no central Government database, which would have a "real Orwellian air". He also promised to make sure "hard-fought civil liberties" are properly protected.

"We're prepared to look at any safeguards that make sure people feel comfortable these are not the draconian proposals they have been portrayed as being," he told the BBC's World at One programme. » | Tuesday, April 03, 2012




My comment:

Clegg, you're a bloody wimp! If you expect intelligent people to believe this crap, you're deluded.

It's high time you and your cohorts found your/their gonads. What is now happening is typical of what happens when there is weak leadership.

Find your balls and go after the people who are perpetrating these crimes. You know as well as we all do just who those people are. Just in case you don't, I'll tell you: It's the Muslims, stupid!

If your intention is to create harmony between the indigenous population and the Muslim immigrants, you're going the wrong way about it. This law, robbing as it will the indigenous people of their liberty, will do nothing but breed even more Islamophobia.

Find the balls you were born with and go after the real criminals! Don't punish the vast majority of innocent people for the misdeeds of the few. What justice is there in that?

Little wonder that the majority of people now hold politicians in such contempt. Contempt is all you deserve. You are bringing shame on yourselves, and shame on your country. Furthermore, you are throwing away all that was prized about these fine British Isles. You disgust me, and I feel sure you disgust most decent people. Nick Clegg, David Cameron, Theresa May et al, go hang your heads in shame! – © Mark

This comment, albeit amended, appears here

Related / Verwandt »

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Taxpayers must foot £200 million bill to have their emails snooped on: Taxpayers will have to pay £200 million a year so police and security agencies can spy on their every email and phone call. » | Tom Whitehead | Security Editor | Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Nick Clegg Urged to Act after Lib Dem Peer Says Israel Will Not Last For Ever

THE GUARDIAN: Party leader urged to condemn Lady Tonge, who said Israel would 'lose support and then they will reap what they have sown'

A Liberal Democrat peer has said Israel will not last for ever, with her remarks prompting calls for the party's leader, Nick Clegg, to take disciplinary action.

Lady Tonge, who was sacked as the Lib Dem children's spokeswoman in the Commons in 2004 when she suggested she could consider becoming a suicide bomber, made her remarks in a meeting at Middlesex University.

"Beware Israel," she said. "Israel is not going to be there for ever in its present form. One day, the United States of America will get sick of giving £70bn a year to Israel to support what I call America's aircraft carrier in the Middle East – that is Israel. One day, the American people are going to say to the Israel lobby in the USA: enough is enough."

She added: "Israel will lose support and then they will reap what they have sown." » | Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent | Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Israel Doing 'Immense Damage' to Peace Process Nick Clegg Says
Nick Clegg tilted Britain’s Middle East policy sharply towards the Palestinians on Monday with an attack on Israel’s settlement policies in the West Bank.

Read short article here | Adrian Blomfield, Middle East Correspondent | Monday, January 16, 2012

Tax Row Leaves David Cameron and Nick Clegg At War over Married Couples

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The Coalition truce between the Tories and the Liberal Democrats broke into open conflict yesterday over David Cameron’s promise to give tax breaks to married couples.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, denounced the proposal and insisted that couples married for love, not to “get some cash back from the state”.

While Liberal Democrat colleagues supported Mr Clegg’s robust stance against traditional Conservative values, senior Tories insisted they would continue to campaign for the protection of the special status of marriage.

Mr Clegg will set out his views in detail in a keynote speech today, in which he roundly criticises the “oppressive” influence of social conservatisim.

Speaking to the Murnaghan programme on Sky News, yesterday Mr Clegg claimed he was not “against marriage”.

“Getting married is probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “But just as a liberal I think there are limits to how the state and government should try to micromanage or incentivise people’s own behaviour in their private lives. » | Tim Ross, Political Correspondent | Sunday, December 18, 2011

This is not a question of preserving 1950s values "in aspic". This is a question of preserving the family and giving children stable homes in which to grow up. Whilst Nick Clegg can be right on some issues, he is simply wrong on this one. Let us do everything to preserve the family – an institution which has served us so well over the centuries. – © Mark

Nick Clegg Warns European In-fighting Will Play into Hands of 'Chauvinists'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nick Clegg has warned European leaders not to give ammunition to "chauvinists and demagogues" by getting caught up with in-fighting over the economic crisis.

The Deputy Prime Minister urged European countries trying to sort out their financial problems not [to] “disappear into a windowless room” to discuss changes to treaties that millions of people do not care about.

In an outspoken attack, he suggested that this bureaucracy will only play into the hands of Eurosceptics, such as backbench Conservative MPs, who want to withdraw from the Union.

“If the whole political establishment is about to disappear in to a windowless room in Brussels discussing things that no one understands, it means absolutely nothing to millions of ordinary people who are worried about their jobs, worried about economic security, worried about prospects for their children,” he said.

“I tell you the only people who will benefit are populists, chauvinists and demagogues who will exploit that lack of political leadership… At the moment, our priority is the economy, the economy, the economy.” Read on and comment » | Rowena Mason, Political Correspondent | Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Nick Clegg Issues Fierce Rebuke to Tory Right over Europe

THE OBSERVER: Deputy prime minister says coalition will not take back powers from Brussels and calls EU debate a 'dangerous distraction'

Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, has launched a full-frontal attack on Conservative Eurosceptics within the coalition, describing their aims as "economic suicide" and ruling out a "headfirst" charge towards a repatriation of powers from Europe.

In a direct challenge to Tories calling for a redrawing of the UK's relationship with Europe, the Liberal Democrat leader dismisses calls for a raid on Brussels' powers as a futile distraction. Writing for the Observer, Clegg mocks those who believe this country would survive outside of Europe based on the so-called "special relationship" with America. "Eurosceptics tend to gaze longingly across the Atlantic, but the Americans are interested in us, in large part, because of our sway with our neighbours," he writes. "We stand tall in Washington because we stand tall in Brussels, Paris and Berlin."

Sources close to Clegg also dismissed claims by David Cameron over the weekend that the Foreign Office was reviewing every aspect of Britain's membership of the European Union in preparation for a potential treaty change coming out of the eurozone crisis.

The official told the Observer: "This would be to misunderstand what the coalition agreement says." Instead Clegg writes that Britain would avoid opening the "Pandora's box" that comes with "tampering with the EU's founding texts", and describes talk of such moves as "dangerous distractions".

The deputy prime minister's forthright intervention makes it clear that Britain's relationship with Europe could yet prove to be the most dangerous faultline within the coalition. It comes after a torrid week in parliament in which the eurozone crisis has led to renewed calls from the Eurosceptic wing of the Conservative party for a partial or total withdrawal from the European Union. Last Monday, 81 Conservative MPs defied a three-line whip to vote against the government and for a referendum on EU membership. » | Daniel Boffey | Saturday, October 29, 2011

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Nick Clegg warns David Cameron of 'economic suicide' over EU policy: Nick Clegg has set himself on a collision course with David Cameron over EU policy after warning that it would be "economic suicide" for Britain to "retreat to the margins" of Europe. » | Josie Ensor and Patrick Hennessy, Political Editor | Sunday, October 30, 2011

Nick Clegg: Tories 'Have a Bee in the Bonnet over Europe'
The Deputy Prime Minister warns Conservative rebels of the Commons European referendum vote should be careful what they wish for.

Tory Demands on EU Powers Are Impossible for Coalition, Says Nick Clegg

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Conservative Party row over Europe put strain on the Coalition as Nick Clegg said it was “impossible” for the Government to deliver on Tory MPs’ demands over the European Union.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that, for as long as his Liberal Democrats were in government, there would be no move towards leaving the EU.

In an intervention described as “very unhelpful” by senior Conservatives, Mr Clegg also forced Downing Street to water down Mr Cameron’s promise to bring back British powers from Brussels.

On Monday, Mr Cameron was rocked by a rebellion of 81 Conservative MPs who demanded a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.

As the Prime Minister tried to calm the row with warm words about the rebels, Mr Clegg offered a string of provocative comments, scorning the demands of the Conservative backbenches.

“Eurosceptics need to be quite careful for what they wish for, because if they succeed – and they won’t succeed, as long as I’m in government – to push this country towards the exit sign, let’s be clear: that [what] will be damaged is British families, British businesses, British jobs,” said Mr Clegg. » | James Kirkup, Deputy Political Editor | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

EU Referendum Vote: Clegg Says Britain Should Lead, Not Leave, Europe
THE GUARDIAN: Deputy PM says prospect of wresting back powers from EU is 'tilting at windmills' after Cameron suffers backbench rebellion

Fresh differences between Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition partners have been exposed as the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, described the prospect of wresting back powers from Brussels as "tilting at windmills".

The education secretary, Michael Gove, had earlier sought to play down differences between the government and backbenchers after David Cameron suffered the largest postwar rebellion on Europe on Monday night, when 81 Conservative MPs supported a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.

Gove insisted the policy differences between the government and rebels were exaggerated, and said the two sides were united in their determination to repatriate powers from the EU to Westminster[.]

Clegg, however, condemned the backbench rebellion, saying Britain should be leading, not leaving, Europe.

Recognising that reforms to the EU were necessary, he said: "You don't change Europe by launching some smash-and-grab dawn raid on Brussels. You do it by setting out the case for changes and then arguing the case with other countries.

"We can't do this on our own – we have to build alliances, we have to convince and persuade other countries, and that is what we look to do all the time."

Asked whether the British public could not be trusted with a vote on the country's relationship with Europe, Clegg replied: "I have always advocated a vote on Europe if there is a proposal on the table to transfer significant chunks of sovereignty and policy from our country to Brussels – but it's not on the table.

"We should stop tilting at windmills about threats and challenges which simply aren't there right now. Let's get on with the difficult job of working with our eurozone partners to fix the eurozone because, let's face it, unless you've got a strong, prosperous eurozone, you can't have a strong, prosperous United Kingdom." » | Hélène Mulholland, political reporter | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Britain Gives £355M to Educate Girls in Asia and Africa
DAILY EXPRESS: NICK Clegg triggered fresh outrage at Britain’s spiralling overseas aid budget by pledging £355million of taxpayers’ cash to educate girls in poor countries.

He announced the huge handout at theLib Dem conference yesterday amid warnings of swingeing austerity for ¬families at home.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s promise of cash for countries including South Sudan, Nigeria and Bangladesh also came as it emerged that a literacy drive in British schools is to be axed. » | Macer Hall | Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Leading Surgeon Interrupts Cameron Hospital Visit
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A senior surgeon interrupted a hospital visit by David Cameron and Nick Clegg to complain that the TV crews filming them were not observing strict hygiene rules.


David Nunn left the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister stunned with his angry outburst during the walkabout at Guy’s hospital in London Bridge.

He stormed into the ward shouting “sorry, sorry, sorry” as the politicians were about to sit down and talk to patients, before confronting the cameramen who had failed to roll up their sleeves as medics are required to do in order to combat the spread of superbugs in the NHS.

Mr Nunn, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Guy’s since 1990, pointed out his own short sleeves and demanded: “Why is it that we’re all told to walk around like this, and these people aren’t?”

He was ushered away by aides while Mr Clegg looked on open-mouthed, while Mr Cameron attempted to calm the situation by waving the cameramen towards the door.

Mr Nunn started to speak to the Prime Minister but he held his hands up, said he agreed with him and explained to the TV crew: “It’s because we’ve all taken our ties off.” » | Martin Beckford and Stephen Adams | Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Hizb ut-Tahrir: This Is Open Hostility to Islam
POLITIC.co.uk: Taji Mustafa, media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain, rejects coalition's 'colonial' approach:

"This policy has nothing to do with security. It is about forcing a set of values on a community simply because their beliefs do not conform to secular liberal norms, and is proof that liberals can be supremacist.

"After bombing Afghanistan and Pakistan, does Mr Cameron still expect people to believe in the Blairite delusion that it is Islamic beliefs that are the cause of security threats to the UK? Most serious observers have abandoned this discredited world view, which continues to be propagated by some politicians, and self-serving think tanks and academics whose funding relies on such nonsense.

"This Conservative-Liberal government has decided to display an open hostility to Islam - threatening to cut funding to some groups - in order to impose Cameron's definition of 'British' values, and coercing Muslims to leave any Islamic values that the government labels 'extremist'. » | Tuesday, June 07, 2011