Deputy PM Nick Clegg has apologised to the UK public for not maintaining his pre-election vow to prevent any increase in university tuition fees. His apology has partitioned opinion at Westminister, with detractors stating that the Liberal Democrats’ volte-face on this significant issue had begun to vanish from popular memory. Thus, there wasn’t the need for him to proclaim this apology.

It is uncommon for a politician to issue an apology to the UK public. The initiative of Nick Clegg, whose remorse was filmed at his south-west London residence, has found supporters, who have declared that the British people would appreciate Clegg’s honesty.

Clegg confessed during his apology that he should never have made such a vow. Actually, the Deputy PM had united with all other Liberal Democrat Mps to endorse a pre-election vow to vote against any hike in university tuition fees.

Political analysts have remarked that this endeavour of Clegg could be electorally chancy as some voters may interpret his apology as a sign of his meek resolve and his inability to adhere to his pledges.

The Liberal Democrats’ annual conference commences this weekend. His critics have asserted that his apology has only served to remind the public about the Liberal Democrats’ about-face on the tuition fee matter.

Nonetheless, his allies have declared that the Deputy PM wanted to convey his sincere remorse over this issue, which had become an albatross around his neck, leading to mortifying questions from the ordinary public about his commitment to his pledges. Through this apology, Clegg has demonstrated his determination to lead the Liberal Democrats in the 2015 UK general elections.

The background to this apology is that the Liberal Democrats had a pre-election pledge to block any jump in tuition fees. But the party, in coalition with the Conservatives, actually supported a decision to almost triple the fees to £9000 a year within months of being elected.

This reversal of policy irked massively the Liberal Democrat supporters, many of whom were students, who admired Nick Clegg for his refreshing take on political issues prior to the 2010 UK general elections.

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