Nick Clegg: Am I Dreaming?

I haven't paid much attention to the Lib Dem leadership campaign, so for all I know Nick Clegg laid out a series of breathtakingly original and popular initiatives that will see him carried shoulder-high to Number 10, breaking the mould of British politics and liberating these great nations from poverty, the sub-prime crunchies and piles. But there I was at lunchtime in my subterranean temporary kitchen and someone comes on the radio to say he's appointed a (former) pop star to be his adviser on youth. Does Clegg actually believe that this is going to impress voters? Does he imagine that just because Brian Eno is a "serious" pop musician that people will take him more seriously than they do other other politicians? Is this how we're invited to make ballot box judgements these days? By which party's celebrity advisors project the greatest gravitas?

Comments

[Daniel]

You really don't understand the issue here - nor does your brief summary of Eno as "a (former) popstar" really relate to the man's current activities.

Nick Clegg has not brought in Brian Eno in order that people should take him more seriously (as you suggest); he has brought him in to advise how to relate to younger people. Is that not a seperate issue?

I am a young person myself, and I was recently made familiar with Eno not through his music, but through his ideas. And his ideas about politics (and possible improvements to the political system) are some of the most interesting ideas I've ever heard.

They raise interesting questions purely because Eno has nothing to gain from being involved in politics - he is not partisan because he has no political career to have a vested interest in; in light of some of the current scandals sweeping the political stage, is this not a refreshing tactic?

If you are unfamiliar with Eno's ideas or credentials in this area, maybe you should have a look at his recent interview with Al Jazeera - there is a link to it in the recent news items on www.enoweb.co.uk

[Martin McCallion]

Also: Eno must be in his fifties. Advisor on youth???

[Jax]

Now I supported Nick Clegg in the leadership campaign, and as soon as I saw this report in the media I groaned. How about asking some of the non famous ppl who don't vote or otherwise get involved what they think would make a difference? Daniel, you're not one of the ppl they are targetting - you are already involved. Can't think that that many young ppl are interested in Eno.