Let's copy Cameron: Nick Clegg's secret debate dossier found in the back of cab
Nick Clegg's secret strategy to imitate David Cameron at the next TV election debate has been exposed, after an aide left the plan in a taxi.
An embarrassing dossier compiled by chief party strategists which stresses that Mr Clegg must act more like the Tory leader was found in a cab just hours after the first debate last Thursday.
Entitled 'I'm Not Here Right Now', it gives a run down of how Clegg faired during the last debate in comparison to his rivals and advice for the next leaders' debate.
Embarrassment: A dossier advising Nick Clegg to replicate the behaviour of David Cameron has been left in the back of a taxi
It tells Mr Clegg to steer clear of the nuclear deterrent argument and reads: 'DC (David Cameron) talks a lot in the language of values. We need to do this.'
On the question of the Lib Dem policy to axe Brain's Trident nuclear deterrent, is spells out in block capitals: 'Avoid unilateral disarmament implication'.
And the paper accuses Mr Clegg of being 'offensive' by comparing assisted suicide to putting down a pet.
It contains harsh criticisms of his performance in rehearsals, calls him 'offensive', and states he speaks too quickly, uses too much jargon and is too hesitant.
The plan urges him to distance himself from Gordon Brown - who is characterised as 'weird' and 'old politics' and launch a class war attack on the Tory leader.
It prompts Mr Clegg to point out failings like 'weird language, no real promises and lots of fudge' and tells him to speak of opponents who do not live 'in the real world' and who 'don't understand'.
The dossier, seen by the Sun, was written by John Sharkey, chairman of the Lib Dem election campaign team and Mr Clegg's strategist and communications adviser, and left in the back of a taxi following a journey from Parliament to North West London.
Mr Clegg is also told to 'constantly stand back' from his Labour and Tory rivals.
The war book advises Clegg to copy the Tories, whilst also attacking Mr Cameron's claims.
On the crucial question of whether the Lib Dems would do a deal in a hung parliament, the leader is told to say 'yes' but only if his party's policies and values are put into practice.
Mr Sharkey, ex-boss of ad firm Saatchi and Saatchi, reveals he is so far unhappy with Mr Clegg's efforts on the hung parliament. 'No convincing answers yet,' the briefing note reads.
The Lib Dem leader is even warned to stop falsely claiming the party was not tarnished by the expenses scandal.
On the question of Mr Clegg's debating style, his aides were vociferous.
The dossier reads, in capitals, that he needs 'more passion/conviction', to 'speak more slowly, and that he is being 'too repetitive'.
Mr Sharkey also urges him to look more relaxed and to use 'shorter, simpler answers' and to stop rambling 'answer first...not discursive tour'.
And Mr Clegg is told to be more aggressive, ensuring he interrupts Mr Brown and Mr Cameron and not to be hesitant about it.
An additional revelation from the lost dossier it that Lord Rennard, who quit as the party's chief executive last year following a row over his expenses, is heavily involved in planning the Lib Dem manifesto launch.
Last night the taxi driver, who picked up the man who left in the dossier, told the Sun: 'It's extraordinary that someone like him could just leave this stuff in a taxi.
'It's very sloppy to say the least and I thought people should know.'
Last night a spokesman for Lib Dems said: 'We are investigating. Until we know more, we are not able to comment.'
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