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Nick Clegg has moved to beef up his “frazzled” private office after worries that his team was struggling to cope with the workload of being in government.
He has reshuffled his aides, appointing a powerful new chief of staff, and brought in new blood to cope with the deluge of Whitehall documents passing across his desk.
The Liberal Democrat leader today denied in a BBC interview that his party was being damaged by being in coalition with the Tories.
“If we weren't in a coalition now I don't think people would take any notice of the Liberal Democrats. If we were in a coalition with Labour arguably our identity crisis would be even worse,” he said.
However, Lib-Dem insiders admit that key staffers have become exhausted by keeping up with the demands placed by Mr Clegg's position in the power-sharing government. He negotiated the right to see every important decision going before the Prime Minister and to know what is going on in all departments, creating a daily deluge of paperwork that has to be inspected for elephant traps that might affect the Lib-Dems.
Sir Philip Green's new role as the government's efficiency adviser has highlighted the problem.
The Times reported that Treasury Minister Danny Alexander is being accused of failing to alert Mr Clegg to the likely row over the tycoon's tax affairs, which the Lib-Dems had previously criticised strongly.
Reader views (17)
VAT, a real qualm for me, not just the effect that it will have on many of us, it is the effect on the more disadvantaged, hope I do not come to regret my vote for this reason. Not a complete reason for regretting any vote, but depending on your concern for consequences it is, for the moment. Do understand where VAT is a solution, just not when.
- M, London, 22/08/2010 12:31
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Nick wouldn't have been pleased if he had listened to 5live late last night he got a further pasting from the callers many saying that they didn't vote for Labour or Conservative because they didn't agree with their policies however despite voting for the Lib-Dems Nick and his cronies were ensuring that the Conservatives policies that favoured the rich were being put in place and I attended a meeting where Nick promised he wouldn't increase VAT because it hit the poorest in society the hardest. Nick being in power (LOL) is doing the Lib-Dem party and the poorest in the nation no good at all. Resign Nick Resign.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford, 22/08/2010 10:48
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M
Improve your written English then I and others might understand you meanderings.
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 22/08/2010 09:30
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Tojo,
You win, I'm boxed, elevated now.
Lefties, improve your grammar, what next, not adequate because you live in the wrong county, give the lefties the right to only half a vote (depending on your favour). Admittedly I could improve, but would be more concerned if I could not offer a tight argument in response to something challenged, sometimes the case. I imagine you prefer finish over substance (if all fails). Grammar can always be improved, by most, but substance for an argument is not always achievable (you could improve here, this is not guaranteed as in grammar, you may find this hard). Am concerned with the improvements in education for, ALL, the young and since you are an authority on correct grammar (your reckoning), I imagine, that you are also very useful and will be already championing in this area, no comment? not necessary. I voted the Conservative P. for this particular reason (not sole reason). And glad this area, education, is on the move, will not need to encounter through blogging the sometimes limited engagement with those such as yourself on this site. My concerns are mostly over, hope you get there too. Keep on blogging, it's good to see what the parties are made up of.
Keep the ego, reflects on you, you've just elavated my confidence, thank you, really.
Nice day, really, I'm off to enjoy it, so should you!
(re. the above, improve my grammar, I'm out of time)
- M, London, 22/08/2010 08:31
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Mike I suspect that Green draws a salary in this country so therefore he is subject to the Paye scheme? Dividends as you know do not, and there are lots of people that own shares or bonds who also have financial advisors, but on a smaller scale.However it seems to me from the blogs ,that in this country you are not allowed to do well as it makes people like you so envious.
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 21/08/2010 15:49
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Tojo I beg to differ he has a effective scheme in place there is a very fine line between tax avoidance and tax evasion but of coure people who pay via the PAYE scheme don't get the chance to do either.You need a top quality tax expert to explain the difference between evasion and avoidance and then the average tax payer might well believe that many tax avoidance schemes appear to be tax evasion.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford, 21/08/2010 13:33
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M
Please take some grammar lessons!
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 21/08/2010 07:21
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In Australia we do not have this sort of CRAP going on, we have a proper voting system to begin with.
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls NSW, Australia, 21/08/2010 05:15
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Supporters of Green, tax is not my forte, so no comment here re. this from me, so up your intelligence and read my comments properly, and if possible then at least address your comments accordingly. And comment re. lefties is so controlling and defensive from someone anyway, from anyone, and especially for the intelligent to take on board as meant. By the way, wasn't it the lefties in power in our last government that supported the right more than the left. I'm neither so miss your point, as you obviously do yourself.
Nice day still.
- M, London, 20/08/2010 18:48
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Phillip Green is not a tax dodger. He, like most intelligent people tries to avoid paying tax. This is avoidance, not evasion.
Through his many enterprises Mr Green pays the considerable amounts of tax he has to, in order to keep HMG contented.
The ignorance of some of the persons responding to this issue is extraordinary.
- jaime gamell, Madrid, Spain, 20/08/2010 18:23
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And by the way, my comment re. UKip was in support of them, re. their predictability, which is refreshing, not policies, not my complete politics, but who is. Think I should keep my comments to education, green issues and giggles.
- M, London, 20/08/2010 17:46
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Hollywood profile, I suppose it is a little dim for some of the public to have any objection to Green's appointment. Well, a grown up government for the grown up (some) public, all's well then.
- M, London, 20/08/2010 16:58
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How thick are people that blog here? Philip Green has not dodged any taxes, if he had he would be prosecuted.Grow up you ignorant lefties and stop sponging off the state.
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 20/08/2010 15:39
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Had noticed the comment from Bleeding Heart Liberal, my comment re. UKip was to emphasize the point that Nick Clegg's stance for somethings did not add up. Not a UKip supporter, just see where they too have a little appeal.
- M, London, 20/08/2010 14:47
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Nick is getting noticed, for sure, by the way, am thinking, what can the UKip party offer, a grown up. Just kidding, don't really think my vote will stretch that far, well? No disrespect to them. Think Milburn may have been a good enhancer for the coalition, especially if he can bring some improvements.
Later.
Like the heading.
- M, London, 20/08/2010 14:23
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Does anybody care what Clegg says. If he wants to see all documentation then thats his problem we can only hope the taxpayer is not paying for any extra help he supposedly needs.
He is seeking to pretend that the Liberals can punch above therir weight but the fact is they are lightweight irrelevances in a heavyweight market.
- Robert Marshall, London, 20/08/2010 13:53
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I think that it's appalling that the tax dodger, Phillip Green, has been given any kind of place in this coalition government. How can any one take this coalition seriously, especially with their slogan "where in it together" when some of them are clearly not!
- Bleeding Heart Liberal, London, 20/08/2010 13:14
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