The Staggers

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Why the "bigot" row has done Clegg no good

The right are outraged, the left think he's a flip-flopper.

By George Eaton Published 12 September 2012 8:31

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Photograph: Getty Images.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg denied that he planned to refer to opponents of gay marriage as "bigots". Photograph: Getty Images.

When Gordon Brown described voter Gillian Duffy as a "bigoted woman", Nick Clegg declared that he would have to "answer" for his comments. Now the Deputy Prime Minister is having to do the same. A press release issued in advance of a speech given by Clegg on gay marriage suggested that he would describe opponents of the policy as "bigots". It read:

Continued trouble in the economy gives the bigots a stick to beat us with, as they demand we “postpone” the equalities agenda in order to deal with “the things people really care about”. As if pursuing greater equality and fixing the economy simply cannot happen at once.

But after Clegg's remarks prompted predictable outrage among some on the right, his office issued a "recall" email to journalists, followed by a corrected email. The latter replaced the words "gives the bigots a stick to beat us with, as they demand" with "leads some people to demand". A spokesman for Clegg added that "This was not something the deputy prime minister has said. It's not something he was ever going to say because it's not something he believes. It was removed from the draft copy, that should never have been sent out, for that very reason."

The damage, however, was done. Today, both the Mail and the Telegraph splash on the story, in an assault on the Lib Dem leader reminiscent of that before the last election. So it's worth asking whether the row will help or hinder Clegg. For many on the left, "bigot" is the appropriate term for those who believe that same-sex couples should be denied the right to marry. A reminder that the Deputy Prime Minister feels the same way should, however briefly, improve his standing among liberals. Yet the fact that the Cabinet Office withdrew the email means that Clegg is enjoying few plaudits this morning. Instead, the affair is seen as further confirmation of his flip-flop approach to politics (cf. tuition fees, the NHS reforms). Once again, the Deputy PM has performed the dubious feat of uniting the left and the right in loathing for him.

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Tags: Nick Clegg Gay Marriage Liberal Democrats

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19 comments

Wed, 2012-09-12 23:22 — Lord Emsworth (not verified)

Take out the religious bit, which isnt in Cameron or Cleggs gift, and what is the difference between gay marraige and civil union

Wed, 2012-09-12 23:20 — Lord Emsworth (not verified)

I just dont get this argument. I understand the thing about Clegg being all outspoken, offending one group, withdrawing it, and then offending the other. And I completely agree that he is a terrible politician, and probably a terrible human being.

Its the concept of gay marraige Im not clear about. Nobody, not Cameron or the Queen can force the C of E or any other church to marry anybody. Take out the religious bit and you have a civil union. Which is what gay people have anyway. What exactly ic Cameron offering gay people.

Wed, 2012-09-12 23:21 — Keir

A bigot must be someone who refuses to accept rational argument or demonstrable facts or data with respect to a particular issue of set of issues. Obviously, what makes rationality and what makes data is a matter of opinion, so use of the word 'bigot' is liable to be for privacy among like minds. Afaik, no advocate of either side in this gender marriage issue has produced what could be called compelling argument, or data, so the term 'bigot' is inappropriate, even in private.

It might be said that use of the term may be itself bigotry, though.

Wed, 2012-09-12 20:51 — john Reid (not verified)

I;ve heard gay people say they're agiasnt gay marriage on the right, as they have civil partnerships, i've heard it from the left as they feel the whole idea of marriage is oppression trpaping people in raltionships anyway.

Wed, 2012-09-12 17:27 — Stuart Eels (not verified)

I was going to pass a comment about this earlier in the day but ran out of time, I was going to link him with Gordon Brown and poor Gillian Duffy. Then I heard so called Christians on the Nicky Campbell Show, some of their claims are bizarre, so all in all I'm with you Nick!

Wed, 2012-09-12 13:59 — Fraziel1

He is right, they are bigots and he should have had the balls to say so. The anti gay marriage lobby go on about preserving marriage for a man and a woman and how allowing gays to marry is somehow wrong but really, what difference will it make? Absolutely none. The country will carry on regardless an no one will notice except the gay people who now can get married. There is only one reason to oppose it and that's bigotry, even if it is disguised as religious doctrine.

Wed, 2012-09-12 15:01 — jankaas (not verified)

well said.

Wed, 2012-09-12 12:06 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

Maybe Adolph Von Cleggski ought look up what a bigot is.

'One with a fixed point of view'.

Wed, 2012-09-12 11:55 — anmacam

As much as I loathe that silly man CLEGG he should take the opportunity to argue his point anyway, be a man and stand up to his beliefs, after all the CHURCH’s and religious groups are the first to point the finger and label those that don’t conform to their beliefs or follow their set rules and values as either non-believers or sinners. CLEGG you should turn this around on them and pose this question “why is that anyone that doesn’t conform to your ideas such as attending church is a none-believer, a bigot or a sinner”? How can you label same sex couples as sinners or none-believers when they are obviously consenting adults living a lifestyle they choose a lifestyle that doesn’t involve crime such as creating Baby P’s, paedophilia, stealing, murder, or trying to stop other’s from living their life? In reality within every CHURCH you are only a sinner if you do not conform to the rules, values and beliefs of the CHURCH and the CHURCH doesn’t beat about the bush at emphasising that it’s either their way or the highway to HELL, unless in the case of paedophilia occurs within the CHURCH walls it’s not really a sin just temptation and the perpetrator/s are quickly forgiven while the victim suffers a lifetime of hell. Hence CLEGG (the peg) should respond with “Yes I have an opinion of your view because like you my dear CHURCH I am conformist to my own ideas and beliefs and non-conformists to yours so how does it feel to be labelled for having a different opinion?
Finally CLEGG (the Peg) will be divorced in about 5yrs and in seven year’s he will marry his deeply religious long-term boyfriend in church

Wed, 2012-09-12 11:03 — Bedd Gelert (not verified)

Slightly off-topic, but I just haven't heard enough from politicians or the meeja on what I should be thinking about German male circumcision.

Heavens to betsy, I might have to make my own mind up about which horse to back in this race, and what would be the point of having the Lib Dems, the BBC and the Staggers then ?

So come on, tell me what I should be thinking about this or I might be left to my own devices, and the risk and unpredictability of my thought processes could lead to dangerously unintended consequences...

Wed, 2012-09-12 10:57 — Bedd Gelert (not verified)

Clegg is the World's Worst Politician because he is the very OPPOSITE of a Stealth Bomber, sneaking in under the radar and delivering the 'Shock And Awe' payload before anyone realises what has happened.

You can hear Clegg's Principles and Conscience and Fundamental Truths droning over the horizon long before you see his Fundamental Inability To Compromise and Trusty Jousting Stick of Fair Play tilting at your windmill.

What Nick Clegg needs to realise is that politics is about the possible, about pragmatism, about consensus and about compromise.

He needs to embrace the fudge, he needs to accept the fudge, he needs to love the fudge. Some say he has already compromised his principles and sold his soul, but he has gone nowhere near far enough to become a politician because HE STILL HAS PRINCIPLES AND HE STILL TELLS THE TRUTH. HOPELESS !!

Wed, 2012-09-12 10:11 — mike cobley (not verified)

Makes me laugh a dark gallows laugh to hear the Right (via their screamsheets) whine on about how outraged they are. They won't come out and admit that their need to treat the gay minority like pariahs stems from a shared and despicable bigotry so they have cloak it in any justification dredged from some corner of the bible. And why stop there? - with all the references to slaves in the bible, perhaps they can now use that to justify the reintroduction of slavery. Y'know, seeing as how the bible is the source of their faith and understanding etc.

Wed, 2012-09-12 11:13 — K Morley (not verified)

In the words of Lord Carey 'There will be many Christians and non-Christians who will be highly offended to be called bigots. People who oppose same-sex marriages are doing so on the basis of deeply-held beliefs and we should not be treated in such a way."

It is not homophobic in the slightest, it is about faith. For many muslims, Christians, and others their religious teachings clearly show the definition of marriage between a man and a woman only. People are quick to make this about gay people's rights without considering people of faith's rights. It is a complex issue but they cannot go against what the Bible, Koran etc teaches, this does not then equate to bigotry. Bigotry means you have no room for people of differing views, what never ceases to amaze me is how everyone else's views have rights and should be tolerated but when it comes to Christians their views are demeaned and labelled and dismissed - some are more equal than others and some are tolerated more than others.

Wed, 2012-09-12 18:19 — Chairman Meow (not verified)

The next lower rung of Liberalism.

Sex with animals.

Wed, 2012-09-12 16:17 — turnstar (not verified)

" It is a complex issue but they cannot go against what the Bible, Koran etc teaches, this does not then equate to bigotry."

It does - bigotry of your religion.

Wed, 2012-09-12 12:07 — RobStevens (not verified)

Thode who claim that their bigotry is justified by their religion are conveniently failing to recognise that what they are trying to force their views onto OTHERS who do not share their beliefs. They have every right to refuse to marry a gay person: they even have the right to refuse to conduct a marriage ceremony for gay people (this has been made very clear to them). But they have NO moral right to stop OTHERS (who do nor even share their religion) getting married. This is why opposition to gay marriage is immoral and cannot be tolerated anymore: it's a fundamental religious freedom issue (specifically, my freedom from your religion).

Wed, 2012-09-12 11:09 — Libertarian2 (not verified)

Cobblers and all, Cobley. Where do you get the stupid idea that religion is a disease of the Right (whatever the Right is). The last government was populated with Scottish Prods, Opus Dei and all. The left wing of British politics, the rank and file, the base working class and lower middle class was ever the source of hatred of LGBT people across the UK. If you took a kicking that's where they came from. The traditional Conservative voters and the Aristocracy were ever far more tolerant of deviation from the norm. It was ever easier to be "Out" in those social circles. So get back in your nasty little box.

Wed, 2012-09-12 09:59 — Mark, Labour Party Member (not verified)

Bigot (n) - one who is intolerant of ideas other than his or her own, esp on politics, religion or race.

Bigotry seems to sum it up quite well I think.

Clegg is a worm for backing down, but then a man who can't even stand by a publicly signed pledge can't be trusted on anything. A pity. Somewhere deep - deep - inside there is a conviction politician, seduced by power and forced into sleazy compromises.

Wed, 2012-09-12 09:48 — Benjamin Rae (not verified)

'It's not something he was ever going to say because it's not something he believes'. This part of the statement really made me laugh. I do believe the right have no fright to hate Clegg. He put them in government to do a lot of very right wing things with no mandate for. It shows greedy they are and their contempt for democracy