Nick Clegg: status conscious

Sir Menzies Campbell was always tortured over whether he should use the "Sir" in official Liberal Democrat literature after he became leader. In an effort to be on the side of the common man, he stopped party officials from using it.

So it is nothing short of hilarious that Nick Clegg has decided to adopt the styling "The Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP" in his official literature. It appears in his introduction to the new "City Manifesto" (not yet online, but page 2 when it appears). Maybe he hopes that parading his Privy Council credentials will impress the City.

His proposals - to end "light touch" regulation for consumer financial products - probably will not.

At least there were few witnesses. Despite hosting the launch at the cavernous Bloomberg London hq, only the Times, Scotsman, two Bloomberg reporters plus trade press turned up. At one point they even considered moving to a smaller room.

Comments

[machiavelli]

I thought Privy Councillors were meant to be respected figures.

[Mad Max]

A living proof that men have four lobes to their brains, two larger and two lesser in size; the latter exerting an unusually strong influence in decision making. Right Honourable, for how long?

[Chuck Unsworth]

Clegg. Another self-obsessed intellectual lightweight - and without the saving graces of dignity and good manners. This is a boy in boy's clothes.