Nick Clegg's fluent German opens up a new Anglo-German partnership (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

Nick Clegg's fluent German opens up a new Anglo-German partnership

June 11, 2010 10:26 AM

Lib Dem Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg speaks at least five European languages fluently

As reported in The Times, it was, everyone seemed to agree, an historic moment. A senior British politician had come to the heart of Europe and spoken German. In fact, Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, turned out to speak better German than Guido Westerwelle, Germany's Foreign Minister, spoke English. And so, in the faintly sinister 1930s building that houses the German Foreign Ministry - where the lift is still a jump-on, jump-off paternoster - the buzz was that of a new Anglo-German partnership.

The Times recorded the Deputy Prime Minister Mr Clegg saying that he had left a misty London that morning with William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, and arrived in a sunny Berlin. "That famous Berlin air," he said in German, "was very refreshing and a further omen of our strengthening relationship." David Cameron had headed swiftly to Berlin after the election, "now William and I have come," he added.

Mr Hague kept on his translation earphones so that he could understand his colleague's words. There have been French speakers in the past. Edward Heath, the former Tory Prime Minister, spoke grammatically correct French, though mangled his pronunciation. On the whole this was held against him in the Conservative Party, where he was regarded by many as a grammar school boy trying too hard to please the foreigners. Tony Blair had a better ear but he, too, thought it wise to play down any linguistic skill. Asked for his most embarrassing political moment, Mr Blair recalled a press conference in France when he said in French: "I desire your Prime Minister in many different positions." Mr Clegg failed to make a similar commitment to the Chancellor Angela Merkel.

According to The Times, the problem yesterday was how to exploit the new goodwill to increase British clout in the EU. The Clegg-Hague line was to flatter Germany and, in skilful omissions, sideline France. "Germany," said Mr Clegg, "is the great economic locomotive of Europe. The decisions you take here have a huge impact on affairs in the UK and the Continent." Uncontroversial - except that in the Eurospeak of past decades, it was always the Franco-German locomotive that was said to be driving Europe. Somehow the French steam engine, or TGV, seemed to have been left in the sidings.

Britain and Germany agreed on just about everything: on the need for the EU to enforce the sanctions against Iran now that they have been approved; on an international investigation of the Gaza flotilla deaths and an easing of the blockade; on the need for fiscal consolidation while stimulating growth; and on the careful crafting of financial regulation, on EU enlargement into the western Balkans.

"This is the first time that two coalition partners in British government have travelled abroad together," said Mr Hague, in his trademark Yorkshire brogue. "You're witnessing a small piece of British history."