As rallying cries go, “Stick with us” lacks a certain something. But that’s how the Liberal Democrats roll and so it was that Nick Clegg was forced – or believed himself forced – to deliver a disappointingly defensive speech to the party’s annual conference this afternoon.
Perhaps that’s what he needed to do. This was Operation Reassure Sensitive, Confused, Liberals. This being so it wasn’t quite the valiant proclamation of Orange Book liberalism I’d have wanted to see*. Nevertheless, there were times when Clegg was unecessarily defensive, even about being in government. Rather than challenge his party, Clegg played nice. Perhaps this too was necessary but it left one noting the difference between Clegg’s boldness in government and a certain timidity in Liverpool today.
So the speech was not quite one thing nor the other. It doesn’t help that Clegg’s style of speaking is not designed for a large hall; he’s evidently best in smaller, more intimate settings and, alas, looks small and even mildly glib in these conference settings.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in