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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nick Clegg reveals he was given a 'big green onesie' | Nick Clegg reveals he was given a 'big green onesie' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has admitted he was given a "big green onesie" as a present - but that he has never worn it. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has admitted he was given a "big green onesie" as a present - but that he has never worn it. |
| The Lib Dem leader was appearing on his first weekly radio phone-in show on the London-based talk radio station LBC. | The Lib Dem leader was appearing on his first weekly radio phone-in show on the London-based talk radio station LBC. |
| He was asked the question by a caller from his constituency in Sheffield. | He was asked the question by a caller from his constituency in Sheffield. |
| Mr Clegg said the garment was still in its packaging but joked that if he was to ever wear it, it would be in the "privacy" of his home. | Mr Clegg said the garment was still in its packaging but joked that if he was to ever wear it, it would be in the "privacy" of his home. |
| Downing Street later refused to say whether the Prime Minister owns a onesie - an all-in-one garment which is a sort of adult version of a baby's sleepsuit. | |
| His official spokesman said he "wasn't getting in to the habit of answering those kinds of things". | His official spokesman said he "wasn't getting in to the habit of answering those kinds of things". |
| Mr Clegg's revelation came at the end of the first of a series of weekly phone-ins, which will take place every Thursday on LBC 97.3 for half an hour. | Mr Clegg's revelation came at the end of the first of a series of weekly phone-ins, which will take place every Thursday on LBC 97.3 for half an hour. |
| Difficult decisions | Difficult decisions |
| One caller, a former Lib Dem councillor, told Mr Clegg he had torn up his membership card after nearly 40 years because he was "ashamed of the party". | One caller, a former Lib Dem councillor, told Mr Clegg he had torn up his membership card after nearly 40 years because he was "ashamed of the party". |
| "Fluent, honest and sincere." | "Fluent, honest and sincere." |
| Not the verdict of one of Nick Clegg's spin doctors, but the LBC presenter James O'Brien who was on after the Deputy Prime Minister. | Not the verdict of one of Nick Clegg's spin doctors, but the LBC presenter James O'Brien who was on after the Deputy Prime Minister. |
| Plenty of callers disagreed, but from Mr Clegg's perspective, the conversation has started. | Plenty of callers disagreed, but from Mr Clegg's perspective, the conversation has started. |
| For some at least, a re-examination of his character is underway. And that is the point. | For some at least, a re-examination of his character is underway. And that is the point. |
| Six callers, Claire, John, Lauren, Sara, Steve and Harry, politely gave him both barrels on everything from benefits, university tuition fee, trust and more. | Six callers, Claire, John, Lauren, Sara, Steve and Harry, politely gave him both barrels on everything from benefits, university tuition fee, trust and more. |
| But no one was gratuitously rude and there were few questions he hadn't heard many times before. | But no one was gratuitously rude and there were few questions he hadn't heard many times before. |
| And yes, going into coalition was "monumentally controversial" Nick Clegg admitted. | And yes, going into coalition was "monumentally controversial" Nick Clegg admitted. |
| There is more to come. Mr Clegg will be back on the radio next week. | There is more to come. Mr Clegg will be back on the radio next week. |
| "It was a good warm up session!" commented one caller afterwards. | "It was a good warm up session!" commented one caller afterwards. |
| But Mr Clegg said he was "immensely proud" of the Liberal Democrats joining the coalition, insisting that the party had delivered on some key policies. | But Mr Clegg said he was "immensely proud" of the Liberal Democrats joining the coalition, insisting that the party had delivered on some key policies. |
| He said he would not "paper over the difficult decisions" but maintained the party had had several victories in government, including more apprenticeships and more free childcare. | He said he would not "paper over the difficult decisions" but maintained the party had had several victories in government, including more apprenticeships and more free childcare. |
| The Liberal Democrat leader defended cuts to child benefit, under questioning from another caller, saying it had been a "difficult decision" but essential to cutting the deficit. | The Liberal Democrat leader defended cuts to child benefit, under questioning from another caller, saying it had been a "difficult decision" but essential to cutting the deficit. |
| He said means-testing the benefit would have been too bureaucratic and complicated. | He said means-testing the benefit would have been too bureaucratic and complicated. |
| On tuition fees, Mr Clegg stopped short of saying it was one of his biggest political regrets, but said he regretted that it was a pre-election promise which the party could not deliver on. | On tuition fees, Mr Clegg stopped short of saying it was one of his biggest political regrets, but said he regretted that it was a pre-election promise which the party could not deliver on. |
| The deputy PM also revealed which Conservative Cabinet member he would most like to go for a drink with - Ken Clarke; although he declined to answer which Tory politician he most admired. | The deputy PM also revealed which Conservative Cabinet member he would most like to go for a drink with - Ken Clarke; although he declined to answer which Tory politician he most admired. |