Nick Clegg arrived at the Blue Boar Lecture theatre slightly late. But he didn’t pause on arrival; wasting no time in delving into what was clearly a well-rehearsed, short pitch to remain; centring on three key points.
Clegg started by arguing that the key question at stake was one of identity. He claimed that on one side was a vision of “an Open Britain”, while the other envisaged “untrammelled national sovereignty”, a desire he thought sprang from nostalgia for some non-existent point in Britain’s past. He said it was up to us to decide which definition we preferred, but that with the threat of another Scottish referendum following a Brexit, “There are two unions currently at stake.”
More pragmatically, Clegg exhorted those campaigning to focus their attentions not on full-fledged Brexiters, or to waste time in discussion with those who already agreed with them, but to approach the undecided and the uninterested. He pushed ardently for those present to try and convince the many whose concern lay with other more immediate problems, saying that he thought the media tended to overestimate popular interest in the EU altogether.
Clegg said that, amongst the disinterested, it was youth turnout that would make the biggest difference. His described a generational divide in voting intention that transcended other aspects of identity, as older generations will vote to leave, whilst the young will vote to stay. He mentioned concerns for the future of his young children, and quipped that “the most logical franchise for this election might be 18-24 year-olds only, because their future is at stake.” He went on to argue that “my generation and those older have no right to put the ladder up behind us and deny you opportunities.”
During the questions, he vehemently pulled apart the idea that we can quit the EU, not pay its membership fee, nor abide by any of its rules, but still be subject to all the benefits it confers. “You can’t have your cake and eat it, everyone knows that” he says. “It’s intellectually petulant; it’s like a child stamping its feet.”
His short visit was an enjoyable afternoon break for a room full of people who had largely made up their minds on the matter, something he was very aware of. Those present might have been inspired to campaign that little bit harder, but it was obvious as he power-walked off to catch a train to Leicester that his real work lay elsewhere.
