Nick Clegg avoids Autumn Statement because ‘he just sits there’

One notable absence on the government frontbench during the Autumn Statement today was Nick Clegg, who is in Cornwall today. The Deputy Prime Minister is in Cornwall today, visiting a number of different places, all of which seem to be in Lib Dem constituencies.

A source close to Clegg points out that he already knew what was in the Statement, that Danny Alexander was there, adding:

‘He just sits there so he would rather get out in the country and talk to people about what the Autumn Statement means for them.’

It’s quite impressive that it has taken Clegg so many years of sitting on the government frontbench and trying to look interested without being able to say anything before concluding that not being there might not be the worst thing. Perhaps we will see him opting out of national politics more often – the Lib Dems are going into the General Election focusing on their standing in individual seats rather than their national poll rating, so hanging out in Cornwall rather than trying to get a word in edgeways in Westminster might be a better way of the Lib Dem leader spending his time – if the MPs in those seats think Clegg will help them.