Spot the difference, Nick Clegg edition

By Peter Hoskin
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Oh dear, it’s that word again. The b-word: “bigot”. According to a press release sent out earlier, Nick Clegg was all set to use it during a reception to promote equal marriage, this evening:

“The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to say:

‘Continued trouble in the economy gives the bigots a stick to beat us with, as they demand we “postpone” the equalities agenda in order to deal with “the things people really care about”. As if pursuing greater equality and fixing the economy simply cannot happen at once…’

Etc.”

But a corrected press release has since been rushed out that removes all the words beginning with ‘b’ from that passage:

“The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to say (check against delivery):

‘Continued trouble in the economy leads some people to demand we “postpone” the equalities agenda in order to deal with “the things people really care about”. As if pursuing greater equality and fixing the economy simply cannot happen at once…’

Etc.”

Will there be a Gillian Duffy-style fallout? Perhaps not. But Tory MPs, even those who support gay marriage, are already rounding on Clegg’s original choice of words: