Introducing i’s new columnist: Nick Clegg Barbara Speed is the Comment editor at i Today, we welcome a new fortnightly columnist to i: former deputy prime […]

Barbara Speed is the Comment editor at i

Today, we welcome a new fortnightly columnist to i: former deputy prime minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg.

Nick Clegg: Get used to cross-party cooperation – we will need it during Brexit talks i's opinion newsletter: talking points from today Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

His column will take in topics from Brexit to the future of liberal politics, and, he’s asked me to tell you, his passion for Spanish food. While he’s best known as a politician, he will be writing for us first and foremost as a journalist and commentator.

The ‘topsy turvy’ election

And it’s hard to think of anyone better placed to give insight on what lies ahead. In Clegg’s words, this has been a ‘topsy turvy’ election: Labour under Jeremy Corbyn, the man who ‘could not win’, has pulled off a kind of victory while still failing to become the largest party. Theresa May is in a shaky partnership with the DUP. And – while they may be rescheduled – Brexit talks are technically meant to begin in just five days’ time.

Clegg, with his years of experience in both European and UK government, can cut through the noise to explore what comes next. As one of our letter writers put it after he lost his Sheffield Hallam seat: “He is articulate, multilingual and knows both sides of politics – and both sides of the Brexit question – well. Where else would we find a politician so experienced in Brussels and its ways?”

In his first column, Clegg writes that political parties need look beyond the supposed toxicity of coalitions and pacts to realise that, especially with Brexit on the horizon, they need to work together.

During the election campaign, we brought you new voices from across the political spectrum, and that doesn’t end here. As ever, let us know who you like hearing from, and who you think should join Clegg on our pages and website. I hope you enjoy his columns.