---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Liberal Democrats in government will not…"
description: "\"Liberal Democrats in government will not follow the last Labour government by sounding the retreat on the protection of civil liberties in the United K..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ec/nick-clegg-8434_citizens_liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not_2372482.png"
---

#  Liberal Democrats in government will not follow the last…

![“Liberal Democrats in government will not follow the last Labour government by sounding the retreat on the protection of civil liberties in the United Kingdom. It continues to be essential that our civil liberties are safeguarded, and that the state is not given the powers to snoop on its citizens…” quote by Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ec/nick-clegg-8434_citizens_liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not_2372482.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ec/nick-clegg-8434_citizens_liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not_2372482.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ec/nick-clegg-8434_citizens_liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not_2372482.png)

> “Liberal Democrats in government will not follow the last Labour government by sounding the retreat on the protection of civil liberties in the United Kingdom. It continues to be essential that our civil liberties are safeguarded, and that the state is not given the powers to snoop on its citizens at will.”

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advocates protecting civil liberties against state surveillance, urging vigilance despite political changes.

**In simple terms:** Protect civil freedoms from government overreach.

Key Takeaway

Demand transparency and limits on surveillance.

Themes

civil liberties government accountability privacy

Mood

concerned determined

Type

political advocacy

When to use this quote

- parliamentary debates
- public policy formation
- citizen advocacy
- media scrutiny

Key Concepts

democratic oversight human rights

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we ensure security without infringing rights?
- What safeguards are needed against abuse?

A Different Perspective

Balancing security concerns with privacy can be contentious.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Civil liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-liberties/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberties/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [United kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-kingdom/)

## Related quotes

> [I rise in support of a Canada in which liberties are safeguarded, rights are protected and the people of this land are treated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-martin/i-rise-in-support-of-a-canada-in-which-liberties-are-safeguarded/)

[Paul Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-martin/)

> [I wish more people knew that the only one of the three main parties where not a single MP flipped from one property to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-wish-more-people-knew-that-the-only-one-of-the-three-main-parties/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [The Liberal Democrat Party and the Conservative Party come at things very differently when it comes to Europe. When it comes to political reform,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/the-liberal-democrat-party-and-the-conservative-party-come-at-things/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [The Labour Party has become consumed by collective bile towards... the Liberal Democrats. That portrays a rather nasty arrogance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/the-labour-party-has-become-consumed-by-collective-bile-towards-the/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [I totally rule out any arrangements with the SNP — in the same way I rule out any arrangements with Ukip - because there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-totally-rule-out-any-arrangements-with-the-snp-in-the-same-way-i/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [Most people in this country are very fair-minded; they understand we're in the middle of a very difficult journey of repairing, rescuing, restoring our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/most-people-in-this-country-are-very-fair-minded-they-understand-we/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [If there's one thing I'm not going to apologise for as the leader of the Liberal Democrats in government after 60 or 70 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/if-there-s-one-thing-i-m-not-going-to-apologise-for-as-the-leader-of/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [I didn't become leader to transform the Liberal Democrats into an enlarged form of the Electoral Reform Society. It's not the be all and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-didn-t-become-leader-to-transform-the-liberal-democrats-into-an/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [The Liberal Democrats will add a heart to a Conservative government and a brain to a Labour one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/the-liberal-democrats-will-add-a-heart-to-a-conservative-government/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [You've got some very powerful countries: Poland, the United Kingdom, Sweden and others who have a genuine desire to see the euro zone straighten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/you-ve-got-some-very-powerful-countries-poland-the-united-kingdom/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [We are keen to stress that a strong euro zone is good for a strong United Kingdom. It's not for us to write the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/we-are-keen-to-stress-that-a-strong-euro-zone-is-good-for-a-strong/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [The Liberal Democrats are proud pro-Europeans, and internationalists - and always will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/the-liberal-democrats-are-proud-pro-europeans-and-internationalists/)

[Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/)

> [I am so glad that as a party the Liberal Democrats are united in our resolve to fight for staying in the EU -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/i-am-so-glad-that-as-a-party-the-liberal-democrats-are-united-in-our/)

[Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/)

> [Three simple words - freedom, justice and honesty. These sum up what the Liberal Democrats stand for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/three-simple-words-freedom-justice-and-honesty-these-sum-up-what-the/)

[Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/)

> [I'm impressed by Jo Swinson. I think if I was living in a lot of constituencies I would lend my vote to the Liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/i-m-impressed-by-jo-swinson-i-think-if-i-was-living-in-a-lot-of/)

[David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/)

## More by Nick Clegg

> [I've just been away for a week, and I dropped my BlackBerry in the sea while I was messing around with the kids, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-ve-just-been-away-for-a-week-and-i-dropped-my-blackberry-in-the-sea/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [ \[All governments\] get into a rut where every potentially good story turns into a bad one. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/all-governments-get-into-a-rut-where-every-potentially-good-story/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [I say this as a young dad seeing children going into primary school: I don't think we should underestimate the formative effect on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-say-this-as-a-young-dad-seeing-children-going-into-primary-school-i/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [I am a passionate believer in freedom of speech. I would not support anything which would impinge on aggressive robust freedom of the British…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-am-a-passionate-believer-in-freedom-of-speech-i-would-not-support/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [For far too long the world's poorest people have seen no benefit from the vast natural resources in their own backyards. It is time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/for-far-too-long-the-world-s-poorest-people-have-seen-no-benefit-from/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [I work in lockstep, hand in glove, with the prime minister on these issues, and as we are supportive to the Eurozone so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-work-in-lockstep-hand-in-glove-with-the-prime-minister-on-these/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [You see people literally in a different galaxy who are paying extraordinarily low rates of tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/you-see-people-literally-in-a-different-galaxy-who-are-paying/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [We are keen to stress that a strong euro zone is good for a strong United Kingdom. It's not for us to write the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/we-are-keen-to-stress-that-a-strong-euro-zone-is-good-for-a-strong/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [I will not accept a new wave of fiscal retrenchment, of belt-tightening, without asking people at the top to make their contribution, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-will-not-accept-a-new-wave-of-fiscal-retrenchment-of-belt/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [I am quite strict as a dad but I don't want to be censorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-am-quite-strict-as-a-dad-but-i-don-t-want-to-be-censorious/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [We have got to make sure there is proper independent scrutiny and accountability for people in the press, just as there should be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/we-have-got-to-make-sure-there-is-proper-independent-scrutiny-and/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [I totally accept that it's a legitimate criticism that when you are involved in the day-to-day scrum of government... that what can get lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-totally-accept-that-it-s-a-legitimate-criticism-that-when-you-are/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [We need to teach our kids, because there is such a celebrity culture at the moment, that however rich you are, however famous you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/we-need-to-teach-our-kids-because-there-is-such-a-celebrity-culture/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [“There is a future for us in that reformed Union, if we are prepared to grasp it. Brexit does not have to be hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/there-is-a-future-for-us-in-that-reformed-union-if-we-are-prepared-to/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

> [One of the best ways to make growth personal is to give employees a share in their firm, a real incentive to go the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-growth-personal-is-to-give-employees-a/)

[Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

[Explore all 81 Nick Clegg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/)

## More Citizens quotes

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/)

[Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/)

> [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/)

[S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/)

[Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/)

> [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/)

[Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/)

> [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/)

[Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/)

> [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/)

[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

> [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/)

[Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/)

> [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/)

[Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/)

Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Liberal Democrats in government will not follow the last Labour government by sounding the retreat on the protection of civil liberties in the United Kingdom. It continues to be essential that our civil liberties are safeguarded, and that the state is not given the powers to snoop on its citizens at will.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nick Clegg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not-follow-the-last-labour/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Citizens"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not-follow-the-last-labour/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ec/nick-clegg-8434_citizens_liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not_2372482.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ec/nick-clegg-8434_citizens_liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not_2372482.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ec/nick-clegg-8434_citizens_liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not_2372482.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Liberal Democrats in government will not follow the last Labour government by sounding the retreat on the…” — Nick Clegg",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Nick Clegg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Liberal Democrats in government will not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not-follow-the-last-labour/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/liberal-democrats-in-government-will-not-follow-the-last-labour/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
