Clegg's Weak Leadership

All political careers end in failure and this is

a defining moment for Nick Clegg's leadership

of his Party. Winning 57 seats and undue

influence at the General Election hardly called
for political leadership, simply the promise that
the Liberal Democrat tail would wag the Tory
dog.

Now he has failed to address the festering

sore of historical allegations and possible
motives of a number of women activists with
regard to Lord Rennard. Nick Clegg was made
aware of the problem several years ago but
took no action in an environment where gender
equality has beccome a key issue.

Entering Government and becoming Deputy

Prime Minister by a quirk of the electoral
system, Nick Clegg finds himself in a bind.
The outcome would appear to be extended
litigation, possible challenge to his position as
Party Leader, further decline in the opinion
polls and a return to business as usual
at next year's General Election. 

Postscript

Given the influence that the Deputy Prime
Minister's wife appears to be having in the
Rennard affair, one questions the extent to
which the spouse of the leader of a party
with 8.7% of parliamentary seats has in
determining the Government's priorities.