Nick Clegg, U.K. Deputy Prime Minister, 'Forgot' He Was Running The Country In David Cameron's Absence

U.K. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has become the subject of global ridicule after telling an interviewer he had "forgotten" he was in charge of the country while David Cameron continues a Middle East tour.

As Reuters is reporting, Clegg was asked by the free Metro newspaper whether he was in charge in the prime minister's absence. "Yeah, I suppose I am," he replied. "I forgot about that." He went on to note, "I'm holding the fort but I'm hoping to take the end of the week off with my kids. Someone else will have to do it then. It sounds more haphazard than it probably is. People forget there are emails and there is BlackBerry."

Needless to say, many of Clegg's opponents have been quick to slam his remarks. "Nick Clegg is clueless," said Michael Dugher, a Labour MP who worked in Downing Street with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is quoted by Sky News as saying. "He doesn't even know if he's supposed to be minding the store or not. If you're stranded in Libya, knowing Nick Clegg has got his Blackberry switched on isn't the most reassuring thing."

Speaking in Oman on the final leg of his tour, Cameron quickly came to his deputy's defense. According to Sky News, the prime minister dismissed Clegg's remark as "throwaway" before adding, "I'm not absent. Just because I leave the country doesn't mean I'm not in charge."

But Clegg hasn't had the last laugh just yet, as the Belfast Times is reporting he will be the subject of a new hip-hop musical set to debut at a theater festival later this year. The show, which has the working title Nicked, will reportedly depict "the rise of fall of Nick Clegg," and is also said to feature Cameron engaging in a "rap off" number.

Comments

[quindy]

09:47 AM on 02/26/2011

It only shows that high ranking politicians do nothing. They have hordes of people doing everything for them.

[ECJLA]

11:25 PM on 02/25/2011

Let's just hope David Cameron and Nick Clegg don't "forget" to grant Julian Assange political asylum, in the event Assange were to lose his extradition appeal in the British courts and request physical protection from the British Conservative/Liberal Democratic coalition government.

All concerned know that Sweden is the USA's new "poodle" and is putty in the hands of the new generation of ugly Americans in power. If Britain extradicts Assange to Sweden, and Sweden extradicts him to the US following a (dubious) criminal indictment, Julian Assange may be in mortal peril.

At the least he'll be facing years of persecution, even if he is ultimately vindicated (as he should be) on First Amendment grounds as a media publisher. (There is no legitimate distinction to be made between Wikileaks and other journalistic publications who cited Wikileaks documents in their stories.)

Unlike Clegg's glib remark to the Metro newspaper -- that he "forgot" he was (technically) in charge of British government while Cameron was traveling aborad -- the Assange situation is no laughing matter.

Cameron and Clegg literally have Assange's fate (and with it, that of Wikileaks and the entire civilized world) in their hands. The Prime Minister and his chief deputy must not allow Julian to be delivered into the hands of America's rightist element (and those in the Obama Adminstration complicit with them) who jointly form an axis well described in a phrase coined by Gary Hart: America's "pin-striped barbarians".

Eric C. Jacobson
Public Interest Lawyer
Los Angeles, California

[chavo]

06:32 PM on 02/25/2011

Wasn't it fairly obvious it was a joke? You think if London started burning down Clegg wouldn't have done anything about it? I mean come on now.

[EveAngel]

08:03 PM on 02/25/2011

very obvious to me he was joking. but that is because i'm not a dumb american; i can actually pick up on sarcasm, cynicism, wit, etc.

[EducatedObserver]

12:16 PM on 02/25/2011

Messers Milliband and Clegg - the tweedle dee and dum of contemporary British politics - actually make David Cameron seem Prime Ministerial, which is troubling indeed.

[ScottishLefty]

01:28 PM on 02/25/2011

I don`t see how any of this has got anything to do with Ed Milliband.....it is the two leaders of the detested coalition who looked like fools not Milliband

closet tory are we ?

[lunacougar]

11:02 AM on 02/25/2011

Destined to be a footnote in British political history, best quote about him made in parliament," He lost his principles about the same time his Ministerial car door was closed".

[Montcalms Revenge]

06:48 AM on 02/25/2011

Don't worry Brits: Cameron put on the cruise control before he left... ;-)

[deluk]

06:41 AM on 02/25/2011

I've forgotten I voted for him (just too embarrassing)

:(

[lunacougar]

11:09 AM on 02/25/2011

Hang your head in shame, only joking (just).

[Parthiban Yahambaram]

12:42 PM on 02/25/2011

no joke - i did vote for him and i do hang my head in shame :(

[Macready]

05:33 AM on 02/25/2011

while Cameron was accompanying British arms manufacturers to the Gulf States . . . Cleggie was on holiday and the UK citizens were left struggling to get out of Libya . . . . Cameron was sounding very flustered and frustrated on the news last night . . . .

[Douglas Campbell]

03:35 AM on 02/25/2011

Ha ha! Too funny!

[duxguts]

11:29 PM on 02/24/2011

He's not exactly in charge of the country, his job is to stand beside David Cameron who is in charge of the country.

[lunacougar]

11:11 AM on 02/25/2011

Ray Allen & Lord Charles, US readers see Edgar Bergen.

[ScottishLefty]

11:16 AM on 02/25/2011

good heavens Luna......I remember Ray Allen and Lord Charles......that was a long time ago now......
memories indeed lol

[Aesop Russell]

10:54 PM on 02/24/2011

Everyone knows the Queen is running the show.

[Douglas Campbell]

03:35 AM on 02/25/2011

yup

[Matthew Harrold]

03:38 AM on 02/25/2011

Bloody well wish she would sometimes with the clowns we have in charge.

[Macready]

05:35 AM on 02/25/2011

ditto Matthew Harrold .. . I'll take Liz . . .

[Parthiban Yahambaram]

12:43 PM on 02/25/2011

Leaders like Clegg are a very good argument for establishing an absolute monarchy...

[JohnnyKay]

10:32 PM on 02/24/2011

If it's "needless to say", why write it?

[Danek Greori]

03:30 AM on 02/25/2011

Needless to say =/= needless to state

[Cinnamonape]

10:13 PM on 02/24/2011

Sounds pretty clear that he was jesting in a typical Clegg manner. I guess some people don't "get" droll British humour.

[Douglas Campbell]

03:36 AM on 02/25/2011

Apparently most of them are British themselves....if you've read the article.

[deluk]

06:43 AM on 02/25/2011

It's the media who know very well he's not being serious, but regard it as their job to convince everyone else that he was.

[Wozzeck]

08:58 PM on 02/24/2011

Steve Bell on Cameron and Clegg:
http://thetruthiswhere.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/steve-bell-on-the-relationship-between-david-cameron-and-nick-clegg/

[Macready]

05:31 AM on 02/25/2011

it's a great cartoon . . . . thank you Wozzeck . . .

[Krek]

08:56 PM on 02/24/2011

He's already forgotten he's a liberal.