Next Tory Leader.

I certainly never felt "betrayed" and I dislike the use of that word in the context of current politics. Politicians like Theresa May and her bretreemists have been highly irresponsible in their use of such inflammatory language.

As for Nick Clegg's decision to enter a coalition, perhaps I in retrospect I think it might have been better just to have a "confidence and supply arrangement" but at the time I cautiously welcomed his decision. In most mature democracies where elections are by proportional representation, coalitions are the norm.

I certainly never felt "betrayed"
Very many Lib Dem voters did feel betrayed at the time and later on during the coalition, therefore you are not speaking for them, varian.

I think that Nick Clegg put self and self-glorification before any other consideration.

I only speak for myself but as a longstanding member of the party, I have never heard any LibDem member say such a thing, although some voters were not happy.

This was the first peacetime coalition so not something people were used to and many Libdems would have preferred a coalition with the Labour Party. Unfortunately the numbers did not add up .

Nick Clegg put country before party and although mistakes were made, I think that now we've seen an unrestrained Tory government, most people realise what a difference the LibDems made.

I think Raab too lemongrove!
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Lemon and Urmston
Raab for me too ?

I have just noticed that Kit Malthouse has joined the race. Not sure why, he is a good man but surely there are enough contenders now and at this rate all their names will be on the ballot paper.

I agree on Raab.

Hopefully not Boris.

But varian what other reason for the loss of 49 seats in the
2015 election ?

There were many reasons, not least the campaign of Lynton Crosby on behalf of the Tory Party using covert online targetting methods which were later used to highjack the EU referendum.

I think history will be kinder to Nick Clegg than the gossips have been, Varian. I grieve for the loss of intelligence in this country that seems to lead people to believe that nothing is difficult and it's always someone else's fault if life doesn't suit them personally.

Nick Clegg was caught between a rock and a hard place. If he went into coalition he was bound to be blamed for everything that the dominant partner, the Conservatives, did.

If he didn't and decided to just give support as and when - a bit like the DUP and this government, he would be blamed for any instability in the government and when an early general election was called he would be blamed for that.

Can anyone suggest a third cause of action he could have taken that would not have left him having to bear the lions share of blame for things he could not control?

NC now works for FB and is paid an indecent salary - tells you everything you need to know about his values. If he really cared about society think what he could contribute. Bloody hypocrite.

Wouldn’t this apply to many others also ?

Raab is flakey

As far as I know he’s the only one who’s gone to FB

Only you could be poster 666 on this thread maryeliza!

What exactly do you mean by that Alima?

I can’t see what likeable about Raab, he’s a bit slimy, wasn’t he the one that didn’t know about the importance of Dover - Calais trade route? And say something dim about Ireland? These sort of gaffs will come back to haunt him.

What politician hasn’t ever made a gaffe?

I liked Nick Clegg and agree with Monica I think he did all he could for the Lib Dems when they were in coalition.
Since he lost his seat why shouldn’t he get a job elsewhere and leave politics?
A silly post from you MaryE about his values, just because
He earns a lot.

12 contenders now! All these runners and riders - it’s like the Grand National.
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Nick Clegg and George Osborne and several other more minor characters have all been offered and accepted well paid jobs following their decision to leave politics after politics left them.

What is more significant is that no one seems to have offered David Cameron a lucrative job, and as far as I can hear the book of his account of his years as Prime Minister has bombed even before it is published. Expect to see it remaindered within a week of publication.

It’s not b cause he earns a lot lemon.The fact that that type of comment is always your default position speaks volumes about the prism through which you view the world. It’s the values of the organisation I am critical of and the fact that there must be many other options for NC that could be both high paying and yet contribute to society in a beneficial way. Silly post yourself - you’re good at those.

Why shouldn’t politicians take another job when they leave politics

Matt Hancock?