Oops, Nick Clegg did it again....

The funniest story of the weekend concerned Nick Clegg. His description of his frontbench colleagues, delivered on an airplane in the row behind a Sunday Mirror journalist, makes fabulous reading.

I was inclined to believe that mere inexperience had led him to do something so incautious. After all, it's something you wouldn't do twice if you were caught doing it once.

Erm, except if you are Nick Clegg.

Remember this story from the New Statesman?

That thrusting young Minger Nick Clegg should learn to swivel his head to spy who is sitting within earshot before shouting into a mobile phone about an aged Olympic sprinter off to a poor start.

While waiting on Bournemouth station for the London train, it was impossible for your columnist not to overhear the Lib Dems' home affairs chap itemising, between sips of Red Bull, his leader Sir Ming Campbell's political crimes.

Ming the Mediocre, according to Clegg, is hesitant and disorganised, commits avoidable errors and lacks momentum but - this was the loyal bit - is capable of recovering.

It is extraordinary to have made this mistake twice.

Incidentally, although Mr Clegg's office suggests that the Sunday Mirror man may have misheard their boss because the plane was "noisy", the Lib Dem leader is renowned for his loud voice in conversation.

Comments

[Nick Thornsby]

In the article in the mirror, the journalist specifically refers to Nick Clegg 'nodding' in response to something Danny Alexander said.

The journalist was in the seat in front, so how on earth would he know the Clegg nodded?

Sounds like Clegg is telling the truth when he said most of it is fictitious!

[Chris]

Nick Thornsby, aka Poirot: Is it really beyond the realms of possibility that the reporter didn't turn around once or twice?! Sounds spot on to me, but also just like the kind of conversation you would expect any top bod to be having with a close aide. Embarrassing, and funny as fish, but unremarkable.

[mike]

Bit like my wife.

[Nick Thornsby- Poirot]

When was the last time you turned round to get a look at someone on a plane? It's pretty difficult to do!

Not impossible, but unlikely.

[ken]

If Nick Glegg said that he never said it, then he never said it, after all politicians never tell lies

[Porphyro]

If it was a Mirror journalist, he wouldn't need to look round, would he?

[Jon]

You could see the person quite easily if you were in the row in front but across the aisle.

[Bill Rees]

Who is Nick Clegg.Is he David Camerons "STAND IN"

[Peter Jordan]

Nick Clegg's comments about Ming Campbell sounds a bit like "the pot calling the kettle black". But in his case can he recover.

Here's my conclusion; the hack was in 7A, Clegg in 8A (both window seats) - the hack kept looking backwards at the reflection of Clegg in the window...and could therefore see him nodding?
However, I much prefer the mirror quip - v good