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Nick Clegg ‘to receive a knighthood in New Year’s Honours’

Other Lib Dems who served in Government during the coalition years have already received honours

Joe Watts
Political Editor
Tuesday 26 December 2017 05:16 EST
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Ex-leader of the Liberal Democrats is due for a visit to Buckingham Palace
Ex-leader of the Liberal Democrats is due for a visit to Buckingham Palace

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Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg is in line to receive a knighthood for his political and public service in the New Year’s honours list, according to reports.

The ex-Liberal Democrat leader served at the top of Government for five years in the wake of the financial crash, while his party was in coalition with the Conservatives.

Since losing his seat in Parliament, Mr Clegg has been a vociferous anti-Brexit voice, urging the country to hold a second referendum when the terms of the UK’s withdrawal are known.

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Mr Clegg first sat as a Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2004 before becoming the MP for Sheffield Hallam.

Three years later he won a contest against Chris Huhne to take the leadership of his party and following the election in 2010, took it into coalition with a David Cameron-led Conservative party.

He served as deputy prime minister for five years bringing the UK through the post-2008 crisis period, but enduring an immense amount of criticism for Coalition policies including deep austerity.

The decision to increase university tuition fees, despite having pledged not to during the election campaign, was cited as having particularly damaged his party’s relations with the voting public.

At the 2015 election the Lib Dems lost 49 seats, with many going to their former coalition partners.

Fellow Lib Dems who also served in Government during the coalition years, Sir Vince Cable and Sir Ed Davey, have already received knighthoods.

Sources told the Daily Mail Mr Clegg was in line for the honour.

A party spokesman told the paper: “We don’t comment on any honours list speculation.”

Mr Clegg has advocated a further referendum on the UK’s EU membership, and earlier this year met the bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier with other anti-Brexit politicians.

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