Nick Clegg Speaks to the Take Back Parliament Protest

[rockerdinger1]

reject them all. vote ukip or bnp if you care about britain. take away the vote from all fereigners.

[Mattyuk1]

Mr burns and smithers - Cameron and clegg!

[lazytown222]

a perfect leader for real???!! YES!!!

[TruePride87]

HERE WE HAVE THE PERFECT CUNT

[Scuzzz]

and now he's david camerons lackey.

[mariafreddiebeccamur]

nick clegg is fantastic

[KGBfbiSECUpolitia]

To english"ppl" insulting Nick: if he is 2FACEd, what do you call Most english police STILL working (with bonuses, awards!) despite CRIMINAL Records 4: Forgery, (underAge)Multiple RAPEs, Lying under Oath, Assault, ROBbery (NOt a la robinHood=RedHerring Style), DEALing (in) ChildPORN & DRUGS, etc

?

[UKfightback]

Interesting how Nick Clegg dropped true PR as soon as he managed to achieve power without it. Either way, despite the well-funded and well-oiled stage-management, 1000 protestors is a small demo by any standards

[MrAnywhatever]

The fate of the country shouldn't be decided by voting for local MP's. We need a new and fair system, followed by a re-election ASAP.

[MrAnywhatever]

What a joke!

We have a party that only 35% of 65% of the country voted for. We have people who wasn't even allowed to vote, a constituency who hasn't even voted yet, tactical voting, disproportional seats to votes! A right-wing government when the majority voted left!

We need a RE-ELECTION. FAIR VOTES NOW!

[getjiggy21]

Anything you say pickmanfox - just go away (I assume that you have this effect on just about everyone you speak to). Yes the situation is exactly as you say it is, simply because YOU said it. Now, just go away.

[pickmanfox]

@getjiggy21

I thought I was blocked?

[getjiggy21]

Don't worry about it pickmanfox - it's just another of your delusions. You think a lot of things! Most importantly, you seem to have one hell of an attitude problem.

[getjiggy21]

You love to pick arguments to justify your existence pickmanfox. "You're a creepy little stalker with the debating style of PeeWee Herman" are your words. You insult when your powers to argue run-out. How glad I am that I'm not an arrogant 32 year old! Do the research. Use your brain - not your mouth.

[pickmanfox]

@getjiggy21

You've been calling me names from your very first reply. You have no right to expect politeness at this point.

Take your tinfoil elsewhere, we do not wish to hear about your Timecube.

[mariotaz]

Doesn't like this....

I mean, yay if he sorts things out, but there's always more to it.

[getjiggy21]

Views in these comments are mixed, some confident, some sceptical.

Let's all follow news events NOT by watching mainstream media but news channels on the net that are not controlled & therefore news channels that we can trust.

[familyguy162]

@getjiggy21 lol too right

[getjiggy21]

@familyguy162 We simply don't know if this party has been "bought and paid-for" like the tories and labour do we?

In all fairness, the labour party got hijacked by complete strangers didn't it? This "new" labour was a completely different political party that effectively hijacked the labour party seeming to be capitalist yet installing all the tools of tyranny.

All the tools of communism have been installed during the last 13 years.

If you haven't notice it, it doesn't mean they're not there!

[pickmanfox]

@getjiggy21

Learn to evaluate sources and watch both.

[getjiggy21]

@pickmanfox I'm sure you weren't meaning to be hostile when you made this comment and will give you the benefit of the doubt in what seems to be a condescending remark. At the age of 32 you surely haven't even had the opportunity to evaluate. With youth comes arrogance pickmanfox. With age comes wisdom.

[pickmanfox]

@getjiggy21

So your tinfoil ramblings about the NWO and chemtrails should be taken seriously because you're old as well as mad?

And people who actually critically evaluate sources shouldn't be taken seriously because relying on facts and not wild conjecture is "arrogance"?

[getjiggy21]

@pickmanfox So you agree. I'm glad you've seen sense. Don't mistake arrogance for wisdom pickmanfox. Do the research THEN make comments. How glad I am that I'm not 32! At least I don't have brainless videos of sex with ducks on my profile!

[pickmanfox]

@getjiggy21

You're a creepy little stalker with the debating style of PeeWee Herman, getjiggy.

Have you watched the sex with ducks video? You should, it's an adorable satirical song about the absurdity of Republican arguments against same sex marriage in the US.

But you didn't know that, because you don't even LOOK at sources, let alone evaluate them critically, do you?

[getjiggy21]

@pickmanfox PS YOU'RE BLOCKED. GO AND PICK A FIGHT WITH SOMEONE OF YOUR OWN INTELLECT.

[Bowcombe]

@kaihsutai Nick Clegg is the figurehead for introduction of PR. You are right, forward thinking people of all political persuasions should support electoral reform.

[jamends1220]

YAY! Let the guy who will let in more immigrants run the country!

[Scuzzz]

nick clegg is god

[GuysSeriously]

Why do you love this party so much? they seem to represent things many are against like the eu. I hope you're happy bailing out greece because I know other countries aren't and the the eastern europeans taking what little jobs we have left. We're growing up with many people coming out of education and unable to get a job, some people want to enjoy life or save up to buy a house and raise a family..

[pickmanfox]

@GuysSeriously

All three major parties support membership if the EU. The Lib Dems support joining the euro, which I oppose, but they will give us a referendum on it which is fine by me. And if you really hate the EU, PR would allow UKIP to gain seats in parliament.

As for whether you should hate the EU or not, it's hard to say. It costs us 26 million a day, net, but it gives us access to a 16,000,000,000,000 dollar economy - the largest single market in the whole world.

[wilus1969]

@Corbett002 "Don't sell out"

Hope he doesn't. Not holding my breath tho.

[luckyjamal]

liberal democrats are sell out because they are making deal with the conservative . Nick clegg you are sell out in my opinion and your party too.

Labour party is the only real party for the working class and poor [ facts ] .

[nick4257]

isn't it a pity all those people in the audience couldn't just shut the F**K up whilst he's speaking. You all talk about politicians having no respect for each other in the House of Commons, and then you all act like animals yourselves. Shame on you.

[withnielandi]

@nick4257 Yes because the people should "sit down and shut up" while our country is dying!

[nick4257]

@withnielandi no, people should sit down and shut up when someone else is talking. It's called manners you fucking moron.

[Dubaifreak]

we want Nicck!!

[zexxaar]

Dammit, if I knew that was happening, I'd've gone

[wilus1969]

@zexxaar Come next week! 15th May Parliament Square 2 pm

[GreenyyMan]

First Past the Post keeps out people like the BNP, or the Monster Raving Loony Party. Without FPTP, we lose the protection of strong, single-party Governments and open the doors for divided, weak and hung Parliaments. This upcoming Coalition will in the short term, benefit the country & Parliament,but if Proportional Representation comes in, British Parliament will become weak and divided. For example, in wartimes,you need a Gov who are strong and everyone backing 1 notion. This will not happen!

[AzathothNyxkind]

@GreenyyMan

FPTP delivered a Tory election loss, even with more seats. FPTP has delivered repeated hung parliaments, PR would not deliver BNP in government unless the Tories decided to go into a formal coalition with them, which they wouldn't because for all their faults they still too decent for that.

In World War One there was coalition between the Liberals and Tories because there had not been a decisive outcome at the election.

Tories should offer PR for a strong government now.

[Exesta]

I voted lib dem from day 1, definitely the best vote for 16 to 65s

[simonzon]

Given this boisterous, boozy, uncivilised reception, he must have thought he was back among the drunken rabble of the Commons.

[STORMDAME]

i did not vote Lib Dem, just so they could prop up a minority Tory government. !

[AzathothNyxkind]

@STORMDAME

The Tories were always going to get the most seats so count yourself lucky they don't have enough get a Queen's Speech through without having to make offers to the LibDems at all.

If more people had the sense to back the Libs over Labour in Lib/Tory seats then the Tories would have such a strong hand.

[STORMDAME]

@AzathothNyxkind

I do 'get' what you are saying, but I am a bit distressed by helping to give the Tories a shot at power. I would NEVER vote Tory. I'm just hoping that Mr Clegg can have a great deal of influence over Tory policies. (otherwise I am voting Labour, next time)

PS- I like your 'username'.

[KingsWorld2010]

Lib Dems are far too small to ever govern United Kingdom, that's a fact ....

[YouKnowIAmRight]

Its all B.S anyway it dosnt matter who gets into power they arent the ones calling the shots or shaping policy they are just the puppets and remember you don't "select" anyone you only "elect" them and there is a big difference. Those you elect on polling day have been carefully pre-selected by groups such as the Bilderbergers etc for you to "elect" elections give you the illusin that you have a choice..........sadly you don't

[withnielandi]

@YouKnowIAmRight Amen. Bought and paid for every single one of them!

[LHMcalindon]

What was everyone chanting at the beginning?

[razryan]

it's finally happening! I think people are getting more educated due to the internet and finding out how corrupt current politics really is.

hats off to the people protesting there! =)

[GreenyyMan]

It is not on the whole corrupted. People think that purely because they can't see through the first, thin layer of it! The majority of Britain's people are Stupid.

[worldwithpeace4ever]

This Parliament does not represent us. We demand fair votes now. There must never again be an election under this broken system.

PROTEST IN PERSON SATURDAY 15th MAY: PARLIMENT SQ.

SEE YOU ALL THERE

[Vinseneb]

Theatricals!

[radomu1]

Clegg looks uneasy there

[mmunson]

I strongly suggest the German electoral system, a mixed system would be better than pure proportional representation. It might be more palatable in negotiations. I may not be from the UK but thats my two pence.

[mrpwase]

Haha - "can you hear me?" "SHHHHH SHHHH SHHH"

[andyx1205]

Tories ain't going to off shit to the Lib Dems.

Take the Labour alliance, as long as Gordon Brown steps down.

[LeClassics]

The problem with PR is that the nazis would get a huge chunk of seats ... 1.5 million people voted for UKIP and BNP combined. Even National Front got a near thousand seats in one consituency.

[mmunson]

@LeClassics Require a 5% minimum vote share before seats can be allocated to reduce the chance for NF/BNP to get any representation.

[withnielandi]

@LeClassics Yes, we can't have 1.5 million people's votes bieng counted in a democracy can we.

[WinstonSmith46]

@LeClassics UKIP and the BNP are not alike so why lump them together. Also UKIP are not Nazis you dimwit. So what you are getting at is that democracy should only be 'democratic' when it's something you agree with?

[burnedPaper]

i dont know what to think

ConDem= Stable government which we need at the moment especially with the economy, and he would have kept his promise of backing the one with the most seats BUT Clegg would seem like a sell out and maybe loose the admiration of the voters

LibLab= Most likely chance on a referendum on PR, BUT he will be responsible for keeping Brown at number 10 and attaching himself to a sinking boat

Or we can have a Tory minority and have another GE in October

[withnielandi]

@burnedPaper It does not matter, none of them can save us. It's just a matter of time before the IMF come knocking at the door and Goldman Sucks start picking at what remains of the corpse of the United Kingdom.

[Illimitus]

Don't Sell Out!!!

[DE4THbyFE4R]

If Clegg hadn't attended bilderberg he would have already had a car crash to make sure someone who had made the choice.

We only have the illusion of choice.

Change, change, change, chain of fools...

[pickmanfox]

@DE4THbyFE4R

Put that tinfoil back in the kitchen, please.

[withnielandi]

@pickmanfox What kind of lazy comment is that? The guy makes a good point. I don't know if Clegg attends Bilderberg meetings but he is trying to form a government with a man who does (David Cameron). I find you're comment very naive and ignorant or you lack an understanding of what is really going on in the world of deep politics.

[pickmanfox]

@withnielandi

He suggested that a man would be assassinated if he were on the verge of obtaining political power and hadn't been to this particular annual conference. That isn't a good point, that's drunken bar talk.

If he has some actual evidence that:

a) The Bilderberg group are a conspiracy of the sort he thinks.

b) They have actual plans to kill anyone who comes to power without sharing their ideals

then perhaps he should publish it? Otherwise, he's just a kook believing stuff at random.

[withnielandi]

@pickmanfox True, The Bilderberg are not a conspiracy, but why do mainstream media never cover the annual conference as most people have never even heard of the Bilderberg group even though the most powerfull movers and shakers in the world attend? Are mainstream media not allowed to talk about Bilderberg or something?

[andyx1205]

@DE4THbyFE4R I disagree with the "illusion" of change. Change comes in small packages in democracies, but change does come. You guys had Clement Attlee who came in and brought NHS, us Canadians had Tommy Douglas who gave us National Health-Care. That change has affected people in our countries greatly.

Compare that and ask yourself if you'd rather live in America, where change has barely came and they don't have national health-care and have 50 million ppl without healthcare. Change exists.

[magenpie100]

@burnedPaper, "DON'T SELL OUT!"

[burnedPaper]

what were the protesters chanting in the beginning

[paulgrahammorris]

Well done all who organised this rally & those who attended. Time for genuine proportional representation.

[toedster]

That said, credit goes to the organisers and participants for giving it a good shot.  Let's see how things go. I'm all for proportionate representation. Let's keep our fingers crossed and our fists up.

[toedster]

I was about a cig's flick from Nick - though I didn't get a good angle of him on my cam - and I was quite surprised to see the cheering to what i would deem typical political rhetoric designed, in this case, to get the public on his side as he plays 'Prince Regent' determining if either Labour or the Conservative's form a government. Good one Nick. But I didn't fall for it - though much of the crowd, unfortunately, seem to have.

[pickmanfox]

@toedster

I don't doubt Nick's commitment to PR for a moment. Cui bono? He and his party have more to gain from it than from any other policy.

I think the danger for him is that if he doesn't give the Tories a chance he could be seen as defying the will of the electorate and being responsible either for the failure of this parliament or for keeping Brown in number 10.

[AzathothNyxkind]

@toedster

Many of us could barely hear him.

He is in negotiations, that he came out all shows that recognises the importance of we were there for.

yes, what he said does sound painfully like empty rhetoric, but again, he is in negotiations he could not come out and say anything too explicit because that would make getting what we want harder to do so.

[kiiabby]

Wish I could have been there today - so pleased so many people were there though! This is great...

[FatRoland]

What an astonishing moment.

[seekingaletheia]

This is refreshing to see from a party leader. Glad I voted LibDem just wish more people had the good sense to have done the same in the general election.

PR is the best step forward now and a short term coalition means we can expect a fair general election within approx 2 years.

[PHONEYPOLITICS]

PR will give BNP alot more power

[ubuntututorials]

@PHONEYPOLITICS I think a lot of people vote BNP as a way to spoil their ballot as they think any other vote is a wasted vote or they think that all the other parties suck... just my two pence.

[beltanebabe55]

@PHONEYPOLITICS So they will get an MP and will get the chance to show themselves to be the racist idiots they are. It won't give them any power.....most BNP candidates lost their deposits. The majority of people in the UK hate the BNP.

[PHONEYPOLITICS]

@beltanebabe55 - they will never pr to the british people, pr voting would bring out the voters for BNP and UKIP - more people would vote them as they know its no longer a wasted vote - i want pr in the uk but its just not going to happen - it gives too much power to the people - they dont like that.

[beltanebabe55]

@PHONEYPOLITICS NONSENSE!

[PHONEYPOLITICS]

@beltanebabe55 - care to elaborate?

[beltanebabe55]

@PHONEYPOLITICS Which bit didn't you understand? PR won't give BNP any power as they are racist and the majority of UK people are not......We will get PR as WE WANT IT and will keep fighting till we get it. I believe in people power, don't you?

[PHONEYPOLITICS]

@beltanebabe55 1.9 percent of the vote would equal mp s in the commons - and more people would have vote BNP if it was PR (look at the EU elections) - I believe in people power unfortunately the establishment do not that is why I can guareentee and bet my mortgage that the UK WILL NOT HAVE TRUE pr UNTILL WE HAVE BEEN COMPLETLY united with the EU then it wont matter if UKIP or BNP are in cos we wont have any power to make any laws.

[beltanebabe55]

@PHONEYPOLITICS I see your point but don't agree with you totally. I don't think more people would vote BNP if we had PR as I don't believe they have that much support but even if they did it would only happen once as the BNP are as dense as hell and it would soon become obvious to the British public that they are not only stupid racists but also useless at politics.....that's why they lost most of their councillors in the election, cause people realised that they are workshy and useless.

[PHONEYPOLITICS]

@beltanebabe55 - BNP aside (coz i think you over estimate a small part of the british population) PR would give rise to other parties against the current 'regime' - it is a threat and the people in control they do not want to open themselves to anything that could threaten their power. the british people have been given nick clegg as a controlled safety valve to release the pressure and increase the illusion of choice. we have no choice with PR we would. i am behiend you fight for PR - fight.

[beltanebabe55]

@PHONEYPOLITICS Thanks I will keep fighting for PR....going to the demo in Southampton on the 22nd I hope....first time in my life at a demo......I was unable to do anything during the Vietnam war ...no demos in Cornwall. Then was stuck in a remote part of Scotland 100 miles from the nearest city through all the Gulf war ones....... now I am in the South and near a train station there is no stopping me lol my time has come, make way for the political activist wrinkly. xx

[PHONEYPOLITICS]

@beltanebabe55 - i was at the poll tax riots and the Iraq war protest - they will not give us PR - we will have first past the post equal numbers in each constituency and AV - This will entrench the LIB LAB CON parties even more - thats the plan. good luck but remember the difference between the poll tax demo and the iraq war demo - and the difference of the results!

[beltanebabe55]

@seekingaletheia I hope so, I voted Lib Dem also. Funny old system isn't it? When the Lib Dems got more votes but less seats than before. The thing that worries me is that the Tories will do anything to get power.....including saying they will look at PR but by the time they have held 150 committee meetings....well, need I say more? Lol

[andyx1205]

@beltanebabe55 Lib Dems got 23% of the vote and 8% of the seats. hope you brits don't get David Cameron, cause us Canadians got the evil Conservative Stephen Harper and we're paying for it.

[beltanebabe55]

@andyx1205 I hope we don't also, I am 57 and remember what CON govs have been like....they make the rich richer and shaft the poor...scary shit! Cameron has a mean mouth and I don't trust him. I don't understand at all, in my area we had 2 choices as Lab always lose...our Lib Dem candidate who is not a career politician and who has lived here for 20 years, who I met and campaigned for OR an ex Banker one of Osbournes stars who doesn't live here and is just ambitious for power. NASTY TORY..help.

[mutley2209]

funny to see so many people cheering for him, wonder how many of them actually voted for him like they said they would!

[PHONEYPOLITICS]

@mutley2209 - unless they live in Sheffield Hallam - none of them could have voted for him.

[mutley2209]

@PHONEYPOLITICS too much tactical voting still going on because of this shite system we have, people voting labour to stop conservatives getting the seat and vice versa rather than casting their vote for who they truely would vote for......politics pfft

[beltanebabe55]

We will fight for a fair Parliament and will not stop till we get it. People power is amazing and it's so cool that Nick is taking this seriously and cares. I am so glad I voted for him.

[brutaldeluxe1]

Really Great response. Amazing that the protest was aknowledged in this way. Well done Take back Parliament. Keep flying the Purple flag of change

[thest3alth]

Status quo has got to go

[Armookie]

This is exellent. Reform, Reform, Reform.

Stick to the Reform lets beat this fight!

Take back Parliament, Continue our fight!

Give the government the transparacy it needs us all to see.

Stick with it. ;)

[Alan7997]

Can anyone ever remember a time when the public cheered so hard for a politician since the end of WWII?

[nekovelo]

@Alan7997 tony blair, 1997

[GreenyyMan]

I can. The days of Maggy Thatcher were golden.

[Guesswhokk]

@Alan7997

Strangely enough it reminds me of vote recounts for Bush v Gore where they also had 1 vote not equate to 1 vote.

Anyway, there would be a bigger cheer if the Tory give up the current system and gone for a fairer voting system.

[MiniMousePoo2]

@Alan7997 Yeah, Obama last year...

[ChalkeyProductions]

The irony of this election, is that the 3rd place party, are going to bring the biggest change. Clegg is going to go from 'unknown party leader' to 'historic political leader' in the space of a month.

[matman16]

Where are we supposed to do this campaigning though?

[beltanebabe55]

@matman16 Go to the website and it lists places where they are holding peaceful protests....I am planning on going to Southampton later in May....can't wait.

[seekingaletheia]

@matman16 Anywhere and everyone. Writing to your MP, information flyers through doors get more people aware, rally's like this one, tweet about it, blog, etc.

[MrNobody808]

This is the best chance the Lib Dems have ever had, and possibly ever will have, to change democracy in the UK. They have my support!

[Guesswhokk]

This is like david VS goliath (i.e. nick vs thatcherism). Can't believe the Tory still against electoral reform eventhough the public didn't give them a majority voice (i.e. over 326 seats).

If the tory cannot compromise for the good of the people rather then saving their own skin then Nick should work with Labour to break the Tory 306/7 seats using AV+ or PR

[takeme2urleader]

... time for fair votes ..... we won't accept leader's sell out .... or deals with Tories in cigar filled rooms ... democracy for all - now

[jacobscamell]

@takeme2urleader

haha, "cigar filled rooms" xD

Thats one stereotype im happy to condone (: