There’s a new equation in British politics, and it’s one that Nick Clegg came up against this morning: Politician + Rochdale = Gillian Duffy. The Deputy Prime Minister was quizzed by Gordon Brown’s unassuming nemesis during his visit to the town earlier — and the results are in the video above. For what it’s worth, he did fairly well, emphasising the pressing need to tackle Labour’s poisonous fiscal legacy. But I suspect Mrs Duffy’s parting condolences will capture the headlines: “I’m sorry, Nick…”

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