There have been two official accounts of the Clegg-Biden phone call on Tuesday and one notable difference of emphasis.
Nick Clegg’s account of the “videoconference” explained that it touched on “Pakistan flood relief, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East Peace Process”.
All good, wholesome Lib Dem issues.
The US vice president’s office “read out” is a bit different. The “close US-UK consultations” included one additional topic:
“The Vice President reiterated to the Deputy Prime Minister the Administration’s support for the U.S.-U.K. Defense Trade Cooperation treaty.”
Funny that. Why would Clegg’s office fail to mention his role in championing the UK defence industry? It could almost lead you to think he was a bit ashamed of being an arms salesman.
Joking aside, the Lib Dems do seem to be playing their part in promoting an industry that some of them loved to lambast in opposition. And they can see the light side. Vince Cable has even joked to friends that he was going to India “to sell arms like a good Lib Dem cabinet minister”.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey