David Prosser: Time for Nick Clegg to speak up
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Outlook Labour MPs have been hinting at skulduggery over the way Nick Clegg changed his mind about the need for immediate fiscal retrenchment following a chat with Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, shortly after forming a coalition with the Tories.
However, while Mr King is undoubtedly blessed with political acumen, his evidence to the Treasury Select Committee yesterday that he had simply repeated to Mr Clegg remarks he had made publicly in presenting the Bank's quarterly Inflation Report a few days previously, undermines the plot theories. The question it does prompt, though, is why Mr Clegg was suddenly converted to the Conservative way of thinking.
After all, Mr King had been making his views clear about the need for greater austerity in the public finances for months prior to the election. Had Mr Clegg listened to any of the Governor's public utterances, he would have been left in little doubt that Mr King was in the Conservative camp on the need for immediate spending cuts, rather than the one the Lib Dems shared with Labour until coming to power.
It would be fascinating to hear more from the Deputy Prime Minister. Mr Clegg either has a different recollection of his conversation with Mr King, or there was some other motivation that explains his dramatic U-turn.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments