Nick Clegg

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Nicholas William Peter Clegg, known as Nick Clegg, (born 7 January 1967) is the British Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam and Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman.

1 Early life
2 Political career
3 Personal
4 External links

[edit] Early life

Clegg was educated at Westminster School, a boys' independent school in London, and at Robinson College at the University of Cambridge, with postgraduate degrees from the University of Minnesota and the College of Europe, Brussels. He trained as a journalist in New York, winning the Financial Times David Thomas prize in 1993. He joined the European Commission in 1994, later becoming a senior advisor to Sir Leon Brittan, the Vice President of the Commission.

[edit] Political career

Between 1999 and 2004 he was Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands. As senior Liberal Democrat spokesman on trade and industry he led debates on issues including world trade, energy and transport and sought to reduce Government red tape. He co-founded the Campaign for Parliament Reform which seeks to make the European Parliament more accountable.

At the 2005 general election Clegg was elected for the Sheffield Hallam constituency, with a majority of 8,682. He replaced Richard Allan, a fellow Liberal Democrat who decided to step down.

After entering Parliament Clegg, a speaker of five languages, was quickly promoted to Foreign Affairs spokesman. A contributor to The Orange Book, Clegg was a strong supporter of a proposal by David Laws to replace the NHS with a guaranteed system of health insurance [1], but at other times has also been a critic of what he regards as an over-emphasis on deregulation in British transport policy [2]. Following the resignation of party leader Charles Kennedy on 7 January 2006, Clegg was touted as a possible leadership contender. He was quick to rule himself out and to declare his support for Sir Menzies Campbell, who won the ballot and appointed Clegg Shadow Home Secretary, replacing Mark Oaten.

In November 2006, he led a campaign for a freedom bill to repeal illiberal British legislation.[3]

His ability to articulate Liberal values at a very practical level have quickly lent him prominence, with many already seeing him as a future Liberal Democrat leader.

[edit] Personal

Clegg has published many articles, including contributing to The Orange Book and writing regular columns for Guardian Unlimited. He has guest lectured at the Universities of Sheffield and Cambridge.

Married, with two sons. He is an expert skier and keen mountaineer.