Video lampooning Clegg fees apology is internet hit

UK Political Correspondent

Friday 21 September 2012

A spoof video of Nick Clegg's apology over tuition fees – set to music – has become a minor internet sensation.

Custom byline text:

Kate Devlin UK Political Correspondent

Such was its success the Deputy Prime Minister was forced to give his permission for the song to be released as a single – although he insisted all proceeds went to charity.

LibDem aides insisted their leader had found the clip very funny yesterday.

Meanwhile, his party colleagues insisted he had made the right decision to take the unusual step in a party political broadcast on Wednesday night of saying sorry for the fees row."You get nowhere if you don't take chances," Lib Dem Pensions Minister Steve Webb said. "He knew this was going to be on YouTube, he knew it was going to be out there, but I think this was the right thing to do."Mr Clegg apologised for making a pledge to oppose any rise in tuition fees, something he said he "could not keep".Labour have accused Mr Clegg of "crocodile tears" while the SNP said the move was "just a cynical pre-conference apology" from the LibDems, ahead of their annual conference in Brighton.There were also conflicting views on whether the apology would work.The LibDems insist Mr Clegg needed to make a high-profile gesture over fees so voters could begin to listen to him again on other issues. However, political observers questioned whether the move would merely whip up further resentment. In a pre-conference interview Mr Clegg suggested he was upbeat about the future, saying he felt he had passed the "resilience test" over tuition fees.Meanwhile, bookies are offering odds of 6/5 that someone else will lead the LibDems into the next General Election.One of those who might, LibDem president Tim Farron, set out his vision of the future suggesting the party could reject a formal coalition after the next election and instead enter a "confidence and supply deal" with a minority Tory or Labour government. Under this system the minor party does not guarantee to back every Government policy but does sign up to vote through the Budget. However, Mr Farron also suggested anyone who led a leadership challenge at the moment would be "reckless".

Contextual targeting label:

Local government

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Video lampooning Clegg fees apology is internet hit

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED