Yesterday evening, just as the polls closed, an email arrived from Lib Dem HQ thanking members for their efforts in the campaign.
That was a nice touch, but why wasn't the email signed by Nick Clegg?
We must resist any notion that there is a contradiction between being the Deputy Prime Minister of the Coalition government and the leader of the Liberal Democrats. No Conservative leader has ever had a problem with being statesmanlike on some occasions and ruthlessly partisan on others. Nick should not have a problem with it either.
If the use of Tim Farron's name on the email arose from a suspicion that he is now more palatable to party members than Nick, then we already have a problem. We won't solve it simply by keeping Nick and the wider party at arm's length.
A month ago I suggested that Nick Clegg needs to be in better touch with Lib Dem opinion. Maybe he just needs to be in better touch with the Lib Dems tout court?
That's a lot to read into the source of one email.
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