Stefano Hatfield is right to defend the right of politicians to seek work outside parliament when their careers have stalled; as he says, they have "families they need to provide for", and "most are not cynical" (Remember, politics is not a job for life, 22/20/28). Clegg`s cynicism, however, is blatant, sacrificing all liberal principles at the altar of political power when joining with Cameron in the "all in it together" coalition, reducing tax on the rich, and imposing austerity policies on the least fortunate.
He even, two and a half years into his alliance with the Tories, had the gall to say that it was time to "hardwire fairness into government policies", with no effect whatsoever! If Facebook needs someone respected and principled to lead its defence against the threat of government regulation, they`ve clearly gone for the wrong person!
Nick Clegg might well have been impressed with the seriousness with which Facebook`s chiefs "recognise the profound responsibilities" the company has "to society at large", but whether he is the person to bring about any change is extremely doubtful (I`m joining Facebook to help tech be a force for good, 20/10/18). He was meant to be taking the Lib Dems into coalition with the Tories in 2010 to be "a force" for the good of the nation then, but sacrificed all his party`s principles at the altar of personal power. After two and a half years of breaking his promises and helping the Tories to wage war against the least fortunate with their ideologically driven austerity policies, to reduce taxes for the rich, and do nothing to end tax avoidance, Clegg, as many readers will undoubtedly remember, said with no effect whatsoever, that it was time to "hardwire fairness into government policies"!
Clearly Facebook needs someone respected and principled to lead its defence against the threat of government regulation, but if Clegg and Osborne were the front-runners, the judgement of Zuckerburg has again to be questioned.
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