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| Margaret Thatcher death celebrations were puerile, says Nick Clegg | Margaret Thatcher death celebrations were puerile, says Nick Clegg |
| (3 months later) | |
| Nick Clegg has condemned a series of parties celebrating the death of Lady Thatcher as "puerile" and "childish", and not in keeping with the sombre mood of the nation. | Nick Clegg has condemned a series of parties celebrating the death of Lady Thatcher as "puerile" and "childish", and not in keeping with the sombre mood of the nation. |
| In his weekly phone-in programme on LBC radio, the deputy prime minister supported David Cameron's plans to cancel next week's session of prime minister's questions. Clegg said it would be a "bit odd" to have a knockabout session in the Commons on the same day as Thatcher's funeral. | In his weekly phone-in programme on LBC radio, the deputy prime minister supported David Cameron's plans to cancel next week's session of prime minister's questions. Clegg said it would be a "bit odd" to have a knockabout session in the Commons on the same day as Thatcher's funeral. |
| Clegg said he thought the House of Commons reflected the mood of the country on Wednesday when MPs and peers paid their respects to Thatcher. Parliamentarians were largely respectful, though some Labour MPs used the occasion to attack her legacy. | Clegg said he thought the House of Commons reflected the mood of the country on Wednesday when MPs and peers paid their respects to Thatcher. Parliamentarians were largely respectful, though some Labour MPs used the occasion to attack her legacy. |
| But Clegg was highly critical of some impromptu street parties in which activists, mainly from the hard left, celebrated Thatcher's death. | But Clegg was highly critical of some impromptu street parties in which activists, mainly from the hard left, celebrated Thatcher's death. |
| Recalling the actions she took after her election in May 1979, after the winter of discontent, he said: "I disagree with a lot of the things she subsequently did – or felt she had to do – but it is still right that we try and honestly grapple with all of that and think about the history of what happened to us as a country and not indulge in this completely puerile, childish stuff of people having parties when she has died." | Recalling the actions she took after her election in May 1979, after the winter of discontent, he said: "I disagree with a lot of the things she subsequently did – or felt she had to do – but it is still right that we try and honestly grapple with all of that and think about the history of what happened to us as a country and not indulge in this completely puerile, childish stuff of people having parties when she has died." |
| The deputy prime minister said the street parties were at odds with the mood of the nation. He said: "It is so out of keeping with the character of us as a nation. I am not someone who agreed with a lot of what Margaret Thatcher did. But that doesn't mean you can't acknowledge and pay tribute to what she was as a politician and to her significance as a prime minister. | The deputy prime minister said the street parties were at odds with the mood of the nation. He said: "It is so out of keeping with the character of us as a nation. I am not someone who agreed with a lot of what Margaret Thatcher did. But that doesn't mean you can't acknowledge and pay tribute to what she was as a politician and to her significance as a prime minister. |
| "I don't think they speak for the country at all these people who are jumping up and down with joy at her death. That is totally out of step with what on the whole has been a pretty sombre and pretty grown-up – it was reflected in the House of Commons yesterday – reflection and debate on her passing away." | "I don't think they speak for the country at all these people who are jumping up and down with joy at her death. That is totally out of step with what on the whole has been a pretty sombre and pretty grown-up – it was reflected in the House of Commons yesterday – reflection and debate on her passing away." |
| Clegg defended the cost of Thatcher's ceremonial funeral, which will involve 700 military personnel. He said it was in line with the wishes of the Thatcher family and had been decided many years ago by the previous government, which initiated plans for Operation True Blue. | Clegg defended the cost of Thatcher's ceremonial funeral, which will involve 700 military personnel. He said it was in line with the wishes of the Thatcher family and had been decided many years ago by the previous government, which initiated plans for Operation True Blue. |
| Asked whether prime minister's questions should be cancelled, he said: "I haven't spoken to [Cameron] about it. I guess it is just a question of timing. | Asked whether prime minister's questions should be cancelled, he said: "I haven't spoken to [Cameron] about it. I guess it is just a question of timing. |
| "But it seems to me if you have this major ceremonial funeral on that day having the knockabout of prime minister's questions at the same time might feel a bit odd. But that is something for the prime minister and Speaker to decide on as I am sure he will." | "But it seems to me if you have this major ceremonial funeral on that day having the knockabout of prime minister's questions at the same time might feel a bit odd. But that is something for the prime minister and Speaker to decide on as I am sure he will." |
| Clegg also scotched a rumour that he has been tinting his hair. LBC presenter Nick Ferrari asked him about the speculation after Joan Collins tweeted: "Has Nick Clegg tinted his hair?" | Clegg also scotched a rumour that he has been tinting his hair. LBC presenter Nick Ferrari asked him about the speculation after Joan Collins tweeted: "Has Nick Clegg tinted his hair?" |
| An incredulous Clegg asked: "Tinted my hair? My hair? Course I haven't tinted my hair. Why on earth does she think I may have tinted my hair? I have had a haircut if that is of any interest to Joan Collins." | An incredulous Clegg asked: "Tinted my hair? My hair? Course I haven't tinted my hair. Why on earth does she think I may have tinted my hair? I have had a haircut if that is of any interest to Joan Collins." |
| Ferrari said: "You could call 'pot calls kettle' or 'sexpot calling kettle'." | Ferrari said: "You could call 'pot calls kettle' or 'sexpot calling kettle'." |
| Clegg said: "You might want to take on Joan Collins. I wouldn't." | Clegg said: "You might want to take on Joan Collins. I wouldn't." |
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