Spineless Clegg 'sorry' for 2010 tuition pledge

The Deputy Prime Minister "cried crocodile tears" on Wednesday when he apolgised for making that promise in the first place.

Mr Clegg made his non-apology while some Lib Dems called for him to be replaced with "more left-wing" Business Secretary Vince Cable, just days ahead of the party's conference in Brighton.

Mr Clegg said: "We made a promise before the election that we would vote against any rise in fees under any circumstances.

"But that was a mistake. I shouldn't have committed to a policy that was so expensive when there was no money around.

"There's no easy way to say this: we made a pledge, we didn't stick to it - and for that I am sorry."

The video clip is set to be included in a Lib Dem election broadcast on Monday night.

Mr Clegg reportedly refused to use an opt-out clause in the coalition agreement that would have allowed Lib Dem MPs to abstain on voting through the controversial legislation.

The National Union of Students slammed Mr Clegg and pointed out that it was long-standing Lib Dem policy to scrap fees.

NUS president Liam Burns said: "Mr Clegg should be apologising to voters for breaking his pledge, not for making it in the first place.

"The Lib Dems' commitment at the 2010 election was to abolish fees, a policy they'd had for a decade.

"It's what they said on the doorstep and in their leaflets, and every one of their MPs signed a pledge to back it up. It's why many students and young people voted for the party."

willstone@peoples-press.com