Difference between revisions of "Nick Clegg"
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| − | ''' | + | '''Nick Clegg''' (b. January 7, 1967) is the leader of the [[Liberal Democrats]], a British political party. |
| + | Clegg is an [[atheist]]. | ||
== Early Life == | == Early Life == | ||
| − | Nick Clegg was born in Buckinghamshire. His father was half-English, half-Russian. His mother was dutch. He speaks English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish. His wife is Roman Catholic. Aged sixteen, Clegg was arrested in Germany and charged with arson. He willingfully destroyed a collection of priceless cacti because he was drunk.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8468579.stm</ref> | + | Nick Clegg was born '''Nicholas William Peter Clegg''' in Buckinghamshire. His father was half-English, half-Russian. His mother was dutch. He speaks English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish. His wife is Roman Catholic. Aged sixteen, Clegg was arrested in Germany and charged with arson. He willingfully destroyed a collection of priceless cacti because he was drunk.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8468579.stm</ref> |
== Politics == | == Politics == | ||
Clegg describes himself as [[liberal]] and is in favour of handing over further powers from British soverignty to the [[European Union]]. The European Union is far more liberal than mainstream British politics, but they can legislate over Britain.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7003100.stm</ref><ref>http://www.libdems.org.uk</ref>. He is in favour of significantly higher taxes for the rich, including a mansion tax - a fixed annual levy on all houses worth more than two million pounds. As a self-described liberal atheist, he could have more power in the next Parliament than the Prime Minister. He would be able to call the shots, because without him the Prime Minister would lose his majority and have to stand down. | Clegg describes himself as [[liberal]] and is in favour of handing over further powers from British soverignty to the [[European Union]]. The European Union is far more liberal than mainstream British politics, but they can legislate over Britain.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7003100.stm</ref><ref>http://www.libdems.org.uk</ref>. He is in favour of significantly higher taxes for the rich, including a mansion tax - a fixed annual levy on all houses worth more than two million pounds. As a self-described liberal atheist, he could have more power in the next Parliament than the Prime Minister. He would be able to call the shots, because without him the Prime Minister would lose his majority and have to stand down. | ||
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| + | He is unlikely to become Prime Minister, as the Liberal Democrats are not in a place to win an overall majority. However, in the case of a 'Hung Parliament', he would be very powerful. He could effectively select the Prime Minister, because if he supported [[Gordon Brown]] or [[David Cameron]], then they would have an overall majority and become the Prime Minister. This is dangerous because Clegg is an [[atheist]].<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2007/12/nick_clegg_i_dont_believe_in_g.html</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8265242.stm</ref> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 19:30, March 11, 2010
Nick Clegg (b. January 7, 1967) is the leader of the Liberal Democrats, a British political party. Clegg is an atheist.
Early Life
Nick Clegg was born Nicholas William Peter Clegg in Buckinghamshire. His father was half-English, half-Russian. His mother was dutch. He speaks English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish. His wife is Roman Catholic. Aged sixteen, Clegg was arrested in Germany and charged with arson. He willingfully destroyed a collection of priceless cacti because he was drunk.[1]
Politics
Clegg describes himself as liberal and is in favour of handing over further powers from British soverignty to the European Union. The European Union is far more liberal than mainstream British politics, but they can legislate over Britain.[2][3]. He is in favour of significantly higher taxes for the rich, including a mansion tax - a fixed annual levy on all houses worth more than two million pounds. As a self-described liberal atheist, he could have more power in the next Parliament than the Prime Minister. He would be able to call the shots, because without him the Prime Minister would lose his majority and have to stand down.
He is unlikely to become Prime Minister, as the Liberal Democrats are not in a place to win an overall majority. However, in the case of a 'Hung Parliament', he would be very powerful. He could effectively select the Prime Minister, because if he supported Gordon Brown or David Cameron, then they would have an overall majority and become the Prime Minister. This is dangerous because Clegg is an atheist.[4][5]
