All right. Nick Clegg has given a statement to the Independent, and he did it without the giving with one hand while taking back with the other approach.
Nick Clegg has intervened in a growing row over freedom of expression, describing as “unacceptable” death threats made against a prospective Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate who tweeted a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed and Jesus greeting each other.
…
The Deputy Prime Minister defended Mr Nawaz’s right to send the personal tweet of the “Jesus and Mo” cartoon after BBC producers decided it was too offensive to be worn on T-shirts by two atheist audience members at a televised debate attended by the Lib Dem candidate.
In a letter to some of those supporting the petition against Mr Nawaz, Mr Clegg said the Lib Dems were a “party of respect, tolerance and individual liberty”.
He added: “We fundamentally believe in freedom of expression in an open, liberal and free society and therefore strongly defend Maajid’s right to express his views.
“I’m sure it goes without saying that the death threats and threats of violence Maajid has received are totally unacceptable, and I’m sure you will join me in whole-heartedly condemning them.”
And that’s it! Unlike that crappy statement given to the Evening Standard last week, there is no “but at the same time we must respect the rabidly ‘sensitive’ feelings who think their religious taboos apply to everyone.” That whole part is totally missing. They just strongly defend Maajid’s right to express his views FULL FUCKING STOP.
H/t Stells Dessoy
Waiting for George Galloway to denounce the whole Liberal Democrat party as ‘Islamophobic’ now.
So, will the petition backfire? Excluding the exclusionaries, ex-expellors? They did show their hands as anti-liberal and anti-democratic, and so on, and should by rights have forfeited both membership and candidacy in any half sensible party. If such a thing exists.