Clegg starts the excuses for the local election results

Nick Clegg is getting his excuses in early blaming the lack of unpopularity of the other parties for the likely Lib Dem failure on Thursday in the local elections. He puts it as a lack of an Iraq factor ... something easy for the Lib Dems to oppose at no cost to themselves and win lots of votes.

He should be grateful that Gordon Brown is doing so badly right now - making him look at least adequate by comparison.