How will Clegg avoid looking like a ‘hatchet-faced accountant’?

Just been interviewing Nick Clegg and asked him a few times if he would rule out propping up a Conservative minority administration, led by the man he calls a “conman”.

He said he doesn’t even talk about it with senior colleagues but when I asked if he would repeat that on a polygraph he said he “barely” talks about it with senior colleagues.

Nick Clegg admits there is a problem with all three main party leaders looking like grim “hatchet-faced accountants” at the next general election.

I’m not sure he or the others have come up with a good way of avoiding that. Yesterday, Nick Clegg buried the abolition of tuition fees policy. In the interview he admits it might have been a “USP” (unique selling point) of the kind that Liberal Democrats really need, but it just can’t be afforded.

– Related: First party conference of the era of cuts