Nick Clegg brands Gordon Brown a 'desperate politician' in personal attack

10 April 2012
WEST END FINAL

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Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg today launched a scathing personal attack on Gordon Brown branding him a "desperate politician" who had systematically blocked political reform.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Mr Clegg said that Labour was "clutching at straws" after slumping to third place in the opinion polls.

His comments came as Mr Brown held out the prospect of co-operation with the Lib Dems on a major programme of constitutional reform if the General Election resulted in a hung parliament.

The Prime Minister told The Independent that he was "serious" about creating a "new politics" in the wake of the expenses scandal and urged the Lib Dems to respond to Labour's plans.

That appeared a remote prospect as Mr Clegg said he did not believe Mr Brown's conversion to reform of the voting system, with the Prime Minister having for years resisted any change.

"Brown systematically blocked, and personally blocked, political reform. I think he is a desperate politician and I just do not believe him," he said.

"And do I think Labour delivered fairness? No. Do I think the Labour Party in its heart has a faith in civil liberties? No. Do I think they've delivered political reform? No. They are clutching at straws."

His comments may be an attempt to distance himself from Mr Brown ahead of the second leaders' debate tomorrow, after the Prime Minister tried to align himself with Mr Clegg against David Cameron in the first encounter, saying repeatedly "I agree with Nick".

However the vehemence of his remarks will spark fresh speculation that the Lib Dems could demand that Labour gets rid of Mr Brown as leader as the price of their co-operation in a hung parliament.

In his interview with The Independent, Mr Brown sought to stress the "common ground" on constitutional issues between the two parties while arguing that it was the Conservatives who were the real opponents of reform.

He pointed to his commitment to hold referendums on reform of the voting system for Westminster elections and the creation of an elected House of Lords.

"We have to show people we are in the business of the new politics and we have a plan for that as well as the economy. I don't think people have yet focused on that. We're serious about change. That is my mission," he said.

"There are two competing visions of the future. If you want a referendum on the new politics, you have got to consider voting Labour. We are the only party committed to a referendum on it. You won't get one with the Tories.

"There is some common ground (with the Lib Dems) on the constitutional issues. It is up to the Liberals to respond."

Tory party chairman Eric Pickles said that following Mr Clegg's success in the first leaders' debate the Lib Dems would find their policies come under increasing scrutiny in the run up to polling day on May 6.

"I think the next two weeks will test Mr Clegg's mettle," he told the BBC News channel's Campaign Show.

However Mr Clegg received support for his policy to find a cheaper alternative to the replacement of the Trident nuclear deterrent from a group of retired generals.

Writing in The Times, Field Marshal Lord Bramall, General Lord Ramsbotham, General Sir Hugh Beach and Major General Patrick Cordingley expressed "deep concern" that the future of Trident was excluded from the strategic defence review that will follow the election.

They said that there was a "growing consensus that rapid cuts in nuclear forces ... is the way to achieve international security".

The latest opinion polls presented a mixed picture with two showing the Lib Dems vying for the lead with the Tories, while one showed the Conservatives opening up a nine point gap.

ComRes for The Independent and ITV News showed the Tories on 35%, up three points on their last poll the previous day, while Labour and the Lib Dems both slipped two points to 26%.

It represents the biggest Conservative lead since March, before the General Election was called - but is out of step with two other polls, which are more in line with other recent surveys.

The YouGov daily tracker poll for The Sun put the Lib Dems back in the lead, having dropped to second place yesterday.

It shows the Lib Dems three points up on 34%, three points ahead of the Tories who are down two on 31%, while Labour is down one on 26%.

Populus for The Times puts the Lib Dems on 31% - a 10 point increase on their last poll a week ago - one point behind the Tories who are down four on 32%, while Labour is down five on 28%.

Strategists from the parties will be watching closely to see if other polls start showing the Conservatives pulling away or whether the ComRes findings are a one-off.

Meanwhile Business Secretary Lord Mandelson was highlighting Labour plans to create 70,000 apprenticeships a year by 2012.

"The Labour Government is determined to ensure that we have the people we need with the skills British industry needs to compete for the jobs and the business of the future - our future prosperity depends on it," he said.

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