Embattled Woolas in blast at Clegg

PHIL WOOLAS has launched an attack on Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg, saying he is the blandest leader since the party’s foundation 20 years ago.

The Oldham East MP, whose marginal seat is a key Lib-Dem target as a result of Labour’s plunging popularity, said the party was in deep trouble with Mr Clegg who, he said, does not understand why he is a Liberal.

In an story published by Progress On-line — Progress being an independent organisation of Labour members — Mr Woolas said: “The Lib-Dems are in deep trouble. In private they are very, very worried indeed.

“It is not just their poor poll position that is gnawing away in their stomach. It’s that they know, in their hearts, that they are stuck — not just with the blandest leader since their foundation, but with his approach that they neither understand nor share.

“Nick Clegg’s leadership has utterly failed to generate the excitement, the new politics or the new policies that he promised. And there is no sign that it’s going to.”

The criticism has comes as the Lib-Dems hold their annual conference in Bournemouth.

Mr Woolas said with the fall in support for Labour, the Lib-Dems should be riding high but had failed to define themselves.

He added: “It’s difficult to recall any statement, speech or activity from Nick Clegg. If you can, you are an anorak.

“Partly, it is due to the attempts by David Cameron to portray the Conservatives as a centrist party which squeezes the Lib-Dem identity.

“But mainly it’s because of their failure to define themselves, they are losing the supporters, anti-Labour and anti-Tory, who could give them the boost they need. They have thrown away their brand.

“There is no such thing as a Lib-Dem voter. Or at least only about 2 to 4 per cent of the public describe themselves as Lib-Dems and vote that way come what may.”

Mr Woolas added that Lib-Dems in Oldham are adding to the problem by issuing conflicting messages. They suppose using CCTV to fight crime while the national party does not.

He said: “Nick Clegg, unlike his predecessors, doesn’t understand why he is a Liberal.

“He doesn’t get the beating heart of British Liberals, he is not of it, nor converted to it and they know it. They have chosen a manager not a leader.”