tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post1286561658740138754..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: These Shameful Attacks on Clegg Will BackfireIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-78358469626846742862010-05-22T12:41:45.677+01:002010-05-22T12:41:45.677+01:00Just wondering - if Nick Clegg loves Britain so mu...Just wondering - if Nick Clegg loves Britain so much, why did he name his kids Alberto, Antonio and Miguel?<br /><br />Sound like he has taken his "love of Europe" to a point that suggests he is embarrassed to be British. Or just so PC he would be useless in government.A. Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03683891234947014409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91885930864436931812010-04-26T10:46:12.499+01:002010-04-26T10:46:12.499+01:00Yorkshire is no different to any other County, Del...Yorkshire is no different to any other County, Delta Pavonis, in terms of it's racial and social mix. What we don't appreciate, is someone who has had what is termed a privileged background in Buckinghamshire, attempting the pass himself off as an ordinary Sheffield lad.<br />Being straight with someone in Yorkshire, means being honest! Iain Dale was suggesting it was a mistake for newspapers to reveal things about Mr Clegg, that maybe he was not too keen for the wider electorate to know. I disagree! We need to know as much as possible about politicians who wish to become our Prime Minister. We know pretty well all there is to know about Gordon Brown and David Cameron because of their previous high profile. As a 'newcomer' to the majority of the population who are not in the main, interested in politics, it is important that people learn as much as they can about Mr Clegg in order for them to make an informed choice. For example, the fact that Mr Clegg was once a member of the Conservative Party might be an important factor in the mind of a South Yorkshire miner, when deciding whether or not to cast his vote for Clegg.<br />As for the MP's expenses scandal, most of the people elected to the next Parliament will be new and subject to a totally different, stricter type of accountability. I say to you and everyone else distracted by this issue, get over it! In the present parlous state of the economy, it is important for us all to be looking to the future not wallowing in the filth of the past.Straight with you Nick?https://www.blogger.com/profile/01373574625261742820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43034591606911063352010-04-26T03:45:32.650+01:002010-04-26T03:45:32.650+01:00"Straight" seems to imply that being a Y..."Straight" seems to imply that being a Yorkshireman means having a Yorkshire heredity and being poor. Anyone living in Yorkshire is a Yorkshireman, whether they are black, white or Dutch. And Yorkshire is not devoid of millionaires. So what if this man is from a wealthy background? It would bother me more if he sought to protect his own kind, which his party's policies suggest he is not. A little less of the ad hominems - not just against Nick Clegg but all politicians - and we just may get the sensible politics we crave after this atrocious expenses scandal.Daniel Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09786693437844822848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-61408229023294089992010-04-25T18:11:55.770+01:002010-04-25T18:11:55.770+01:00Nick Clegg has persistently tried to pass himself ...Nick Clegg has persistently tried to pass himself off as a typical Yorkshireman, speaking passionately of ‘my city of Sheffield’. He is the MP for Sheffield Hallam but there his claims of being a Yorkshireman end.<br />In the weeks since the election began we have learned that despite his apparent down to earth name, Nick Clegg is the son of a Dutch mother and a half-Russian merchant banker father. He spent his childhood living in a Buckinghamshire Mansion, which he himself, has described in more candid moments as “affluent”. Companies House records indicate that his father Nicholas, who also owns a twenty room chalet in the Alps and a Chateau near Bordeaux, is the Chairman of The United Trust Bank which specialises in financing property developers, the sort of risky lending Vince Cable says he wants to curb. ‘Yorkshire Nick’ enjoyed the privilege of a Public School education at the £30,000 per year Westminster School. As a boarder there, his fag was none other than TV’s Louis Theroux. Clegg doesn’t deny it, he just uses the old political chestnut of saying “I have no recollection of being woken up by Louis Theroux“, one of Mr Theroux’s stated duties as Mr Clegg‘s fag. Clegg went on from there to study Social Anthropology at Robinson College, Cambridge, where he joined the Cambridge University Conservative Association. Despite claiming to be the only Party Leader who is being straight with the electorate, he refuses to confirm this. A staunch Europhile, Mr Clegg went on to study at the College d’Europe in Bruges from where he went on to find employment with ex-Tory Minister Leon Brittan, who was the European Commissioner for Trade at the time. Clegg also worked as a lobbyist for GJW between 1992 and 1994.<br />Nick Clegg enjoys a similar privileged background to David Cameron. David Cameron has always been perfectly honest (you could say straight) about his family heritage, in contrast to Mr Clegg, who attempts to pretend to be an ordinary down to earth Sheffield lad. Such behaviour is a betrayal of his own family, and inconsistent with his claim to be the only leader who is being straight with the voters. Surely revealing Nick Clegg’s true background in order to challenge his attempts to mislead voters about his privileged background is no less than he could reasonably expect. It is essential that hypocrisy, especially in politicians be exposed, particularly in those who aspire to be Prime Minister.Straight with you Nick?https://www.blogger.com/profile/01373574625261742820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53754480044621742762010-04-23T17:13:58.999+01:002010-04-23T17:13:58.999+01:00Well, I don't agree, Iain. Clegg is the devil...Well, I don't agree, Iain. Clegg is the devil. He isn't fair...he sounds fair but then so did Stalin. Don't fall for his smarm; if you let them get in they will create an Animal Farm and PR will rid this country of decent leadership.<br /><br />Vote Tory, get honesty.David Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02385210314112502867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-13438315594984375272010-04-23T15:51:45.622+01:002010-04-23T15:51:45.622+01:00Sure, criticism is welcome, but attacking Clegg on...Sure, criticism is welcome, but attacking Clegg on the basis of his ethnic heritage and lying about the article he wrote on British hang-ups about Germans is overstepping the mark. If it was orchestrated by Conservative Central Office (and different newspapers did seem to have much the same article), then it really reflects badly on Cameron and will backfire.Daniel Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09786693437844822848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-20177316282759698072010-04-23T15:04:13.510+01:002010-04-23T15:04:13.510+01:00I was surprised to hear Nick Robinson say on Radio...I was surprised to hear Nick Robinson say on Radio 4 this morning that he felt this was all fair comment from the papers. Most of it was indeed about policy not personality. I think you've called this one wrong, Iain.Gregory Spawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03196915153035297756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-52610105848451123152010-04-23T13:28:23.876+01:002010-04-23T13:28:23.876+01:00I am quite thinking about the gifts for her but I ...I am quite thinking about the <a href="http://bottlemeamessage.com" rel="nofollow">gifts for her</a> but I never find what should be that is ?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03296722895063527673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-71263840307701648762010-04-23T12:23:15.156+01:002010-04-23T12:23:15.156+01:00If Clegg is a "transparently decent individua...If Clegg is a "transparently decent individual", what is Call Me Dave?GW74https://www.blogger.com/profile/15474867463421430552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-89552916826275508112010-04-23T08:43:21.438+01:002010-04-23T08:43:21.438+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15520443954547276307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-85393943628556761342010-04-23T07:17:49.230+01:002010-04-23T07:17:49.230+01:00Thank you Ian.
As a long time Labor voter who was...Thank you Ian.<br /><br />As a long time Labor voter who was going to vote for Cameron, I'm so disgusted by these attacks that even though I disagree with a number of Clegg's policies I'm still going to vote for him rather than reward the media moguls' preferred candidate.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11906557052404624888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11767465925020998442010-04-22T22:24:17.747+01:002010-04-22T22:24:17.747+01:00Iain, Are you saying these attacks are untrue? If ...Iain, Are you saying these attacks are untrue? If they are not the press have every right, nay duty, to report as they have done. And I might add, you as a Conservative should applaud them for so doing.Old Blue Eyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10525388940787856212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-75733992082105011602010-04-22T18:33:20.079+01:002010-04-22T18:33:20.079+01:00Mr Dale,
I probably disagree with you about most ...Mr Dale,<br /><br />I probably disagree with you about most things but this was a great post. This kind of attack is shameful and degrading.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738150412949621922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23255402536611565392010-04-22T17:57:41.147+01:002010-04-22T17:57:41.147+01:00Iain, I agree with your sentiments and in an ideal...Iain, I agree with your sentiments and in an ideal world politics should be clean and all about parties being civil, debating issues and policies with the press reporting on it without bias, but British politics is a dirty business. It's always been a dirty business. And the Lib Dems are no stranger to this what with their tactical voting, pact with Labour and decapitation strategies. I remember how in the 1990s how the tabloids demonized the Conservative party nearly every day rendering it unelectable. I don't recall the opposition parties moaning about it and asking the press to play fair.<br /><br />So when I see the headlines in the press I just shrug. What goes around comes around.<br /><br />I had to laugh at the gall of Peter Mandelson moaning about "Tory dirty tricks" and defending Clegg. What an absolute hypocrite of the highest order.AndrewJKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06306611874820723884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49616013011316462352010-04-22T17:51:41.429+01:002010-04-22T17:51:41.429+01:00"The Mail runs a spurious story about Nick Cl..."The Mail runs a spurious story about Nick Clegg making a supposed Nazi slur against Britain."<br /><br />How exactly was it spurious? Really, I'm just interested. A link that shows how Clegg didn't say what has been claimed, or that the comments are similarly inauthentic would be appreciated.<br /><br />Just for point of reference:<br /><br /><i>spu·ri·ous<br />–adjective<br />1.not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit.</i>Rich Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15561931187909269006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-42380889898323147012010-04-22T17:48:06.175+01:002010-04-22T17:48:06.175+01:00Good point. This, the most open election in years,...Good point. This, the most open election in years, should be based on policy and not on personal attacks.Adwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16025878603798597770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-58136460551418909122010-04-22T17:42:12.951+01:002010-04-22T17:42:12.951+01:00Iain
When British politicians stop creating legis...Iain<br /><br />When British politicians stop creating legislation that demands to know every last minutiae about me & my life, then I'll let them enjoy their freedom. Until then, I'll savour every last bit of tittle tattle on them.<br /><br />Remember, they didn't want us to know about their expenses fiddles.<br /><br />Politicians now rank below second-hand car salespeople & estate agents in the heirarchy of comtempt.Joe Publichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829909061904690380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91608946733656305002010-04-22T17:39:45.083+01:002010-04-22T17:39:45.083+01:00Of course the tory rabid press have to attack cleg...Of course the tory rabid press have to attack clegg as the tories whole campaign has been reduced to trying to scare voters into voting for them as they have no positive policies to help the u.k at all.If they get in the economic crisis will get worse with osborne at the helm.I for one hope come may 6th we have the start of a permanent change to uk political landscape and been stuck with the same old 2 parties who do absloutely nothing in the end but create more disaster.<br /><br />No party who tries to scaremonger people into voting for them in such a below the belt way deserves power so let's hope cameron and his cronies find that out come election day.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11012855237695779045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-61252121716574206782010-04-22T17:11:37.502+01:002010-04-22T17:11:37.502+01:00Ian, I disagree with much of your ideology, but I ...Ian, I disagree with much of your ideology, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for this principled stance you are taking.<br />Baseless smears demean politics for all of us.Felixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15534761182315575799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-78198308543147535392010-04-22T16:44:04.462+01:002010-04-22T16:44:04.462+01:00Thank you for a sensible point. I want an election...Thank you for a sensible point. I want an election campaign about policies and ideas. I'm sick of spin, cynicism and negative campaigning. I'm sure I'm like millions of other voters. I want change and I want a better country, not this mud slinging. Yes, let's hear some proper criticism of the Lib Dems, let's interrogate them on their policies and whether they are really in step with the country's wants and needs. But the American-style political bitchiness has to stop. And I really admire those politicians who stand up for their opponents when there is unfair campaigning. Well done to you to come out and say this, and may some decent Labour politicians also criticise Harriet Harman for her nasty comments about David Cameron. It gets us nowhere.Daniel Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09786693437844822848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-42339040586349456792010-04-22T16:16:29.042+01:002010-04-22T16:16:29.042+01:00Wise words iain.Wise words iain.Liberal Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15327253141887509972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15831468165933542262010-04-22T15:51:48.455+01:002010-04-22T15:51:48.455+01:00sorry - i have to disagree with you iain.
If Cleg...sorry - i have to disagree with you iain.<br /><br />If Clegg makes claims about his moral rectitude to try and get elected then he must stand up and take the scrutiny for those claimsDanny Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08789209821773052718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67475291212575296332010-04-22T15:46:33.084+01:002010-04-22T15:46:33.084+01:00Hats off to you for that excellent, heartfelt arti...Hats off to you for that excellent, heartfelt article, Iain. I don’t share your views politically, but I wholeheartedly agree with you about this. I also have a degree of admiration for you for swimming against the tide today. Well done.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02180450184344630294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86987962655706048752010-04-22T15:45:25.097+01:002010-04-22T15:45:25.097+01:00A good and fair comment.
I haven't seen the S...A good and fair comment.<br /><br />I haven't seen the Sun and Express attacks. The Mail one is absolutely shameful. Clegg's Guardian article - which is *eight years old* - is very fair and reasonable, and when I read it I entirely agreed with it. In America, it's considered political suicide for any politician to criticise America in any way. It seems the Mail wants to encourage this attitude here. If I were neutral about Clegg before today, this alone would have made me determined to vote for his party.<br /><br />The Telegraph attack was much fairer, in that it was actually about something potentially substantial, but it had the disadvantage of being incredibly weak. The sole point of criticism was the bank account into which the donations were paid. There was no suggestion that there was anything dodgy about the donors, the money, or the use to which it was put, and Clegg declared everything at the time and was wholly within the rules. This is not duck house territory. If that's really the worst that can be dredged up about him, he's not looking too shabby.<br /><br />Incidentally, it seems that the Mail repeated its shameful attack on Clegg's family background and wife in its editorial today (even with the weasel words "It might be unfair to say..." before saying it). It seems the Mail is no longer aligned with the Conservative party but has moved decisively into BNP territory.JonathanCRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943966639483256507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-83075114690116985042010-04-22T15:09:10.006+01:002010-04-22T15:09:10.006+01:00Well said.Well said.Jack of Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00519002603649560097noreply@blogger.com