Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, fielded questions from the packed audience at SCOLA in Sutton
Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, today held an open town hall meeting in Sutton to hear the views and questions of local people.
Mr Clegg regularly holds similar meetings around the country as part of a pledge to get out and about to meet the people his party represents so as not to get stuck in the 'Westminster bubble.'
Before the meeting began Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, took Mr Clegg on a tour of Sutton which included a stop in the Robin Hood Pub where they each pulled a St George's day pint.
Later at SCOLA, where the meeting was held, Mr Clegg began by briefly explaining some of his own political views and his reasons for being a liberal, before opening the meeting up to the floor to take questions from the 170-strong audience. From personal issues to national and international concerns, Mr Clegg answered questions ranging from events in Sri Lanka to the banking crisis.
Commenting Paul Burstow MP, who chaired the meeting, said:
'Nick's commitment to get out of the Westminster village has taken him all round the country because for him, the best way to do his job is to get out and about to meet people. In doing so he hasn't shied away from difficult questions or any awkward customers.
'With a full house at SCOLA Nick fielded interesting and wide-ranging questions which reflected the issues people are most concerned about in their local area and the country at large.'
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