Nick Clegg - Straight Talking on Politics and Policy, by Timothy Starkey

12.00.00am GMT Mon 21st Jan 2008

Local boy and new leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg came to answer questions from members of the public at Dr Challoner's High School, Little Chalfont, last week. In front of a packed audience of 200, he responded to questions ranging from the environment to education to whether it makes a difference if politicians believe in God and what he'd do in a hung parliament.

The presence of local 6th formers created a lively and, sometimes, controversial debate which Nick Clegg seemed to thrive on. Of the House of Commons he said "...it has a certain rude logic, but it's a pathetic way to run a modern democracy with grown men and women shouting at each other. I much prefer meetings like these. I have said from the beginning that I would do as many of these meetings as I can. It's much more rewarding. I hear from real people with their everyday concerns."

He also spoke out firmly against ID cards. Not only did he say that the plan seriously undermined our civil liberties but that, following the recent spate of data loss scandals, there were serious questions over whether the project could be safely managed.

Nick, who was born in Amersham, described the evening as something of a homecoming. He described how, as a student, he had been dismayed at the choice in the 80s between an "economically illiterate" Labour party and a Thatcherite Conservative party with a "heart of stone". Before entering politics he worked as a development aid and trade expert in the European Union, including managing aid projects in the poorest parts of the former Soviet Union and overseeing the EU's side in negotiations for China and Russia to join the World Trade Organisation. He was elected as a member of the European Parliament in 1999, where as Trade and Industry spokesman for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe he led the move to open up the domestic telecoms market, allowing consumers to pick their telephone provider for the first time and advocated trade measures against illegally logged timber. He became a member of parliament in 2005 and, shortly after, was promoted to the role of Shadow Home Secretary. I was lucky enough to work with him in this job to produce the "We Can Cut Crime" policy paper, calling for more police on the beat, compulsory work and training in prison to cut re-offending and faster and better compensation for victims of crime.

On becoming leader The Sun said: "Mr Clegg's relative youth and ability to communicate with ordinary voters will cement him in the job. His party will pose a major threat to the Tories." (The Sun 19/12/2007)

Whilst Andrew O'Hagan from the Telegaph stated that: "It seems the only person speaking up with a broad sense of [the dangers of ID cards] ... is Nick Clegg ... I have to say I cheered when I heard this, not only because I agree, but because it is entirely salutary, in these sheepish times, to see a British politician express his personal feelings so strongly." (Andrew O'Hagan, Telegraph 1/1/08)