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Nick Clegg defends David Cameron's Mandela memorial selfie Nick Clegg defends David Cameron's Mandela memorial selfie
(about 1 hour later)
Nick Clegg has defended David Cameron's controversial selfie with Barack Obama and Helle Thorning-Schmidt at Nelson Mandela's memorial service, saying the three world leaders were just "joking around".Nick Clegg has defended David Cameron's controversial selfie with Barack Obama and Helle Thorning-Schmidt at Nelson Mandela's memorial service, saying the three world leaders were just "joking around".
The deputy prime minister said it was not out of keeping with the event, because the atmosphere was jubilant as crowds gathered to celebrate the former South African president's life.The deputy prime minister said it was not out of keeping with the event, because the atmosphere was jubilant as crowds gathered to celebrate the former South African president's life.
Speaking on his regular LBC 97.3 radio show, Clegg said there was no need to be too censorious as they were just being light-hearted and friendly. Speaking on his regular radio appearance on LBC 97.3, Clegg said there was no need to be too censorious as they were just being light-hearted and friendly.
The Lib Dem leader brushed off the suggestion that he was jealous of the encounter and revealed the subject of his conversation with former US president Bill Clinton at the same event.The Lib Dem leader brushed off the suggestion that he was jealous of the encounter and revealed the subject of his conversation with former US president Bill Clinton at the same event.
The two politicians were discussing a book called The End of Power, which Clinton recommended on a previous occasion and Clegg's wife subsequently bought.The two politicians were discussing a book called The End of Power, which Clinton recommended on a previous occasion and Clegg's wife subsequently bought.
Clegg also said questions over the sign language skills of an interpreter at the service may have made Mandela chuckle. Clegg also said questions over the sign language skills of an interpreter at the service might have made Mandela chuckle. He said it was a serious thing for deaf viewers but the former president and anti-apartheid activist had a good sense of humour.
He said it was a serious thing for deaf viewers but the former president and anti-apartheid activist had a good sense of humour. Clegg was one of numerous British politicians, including Ed Miliband, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and Sir John Major, to attend the event at a football stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Clegg was one of a raft of British statesmen and politicians, including Ed Miliband, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and Sir John Major, to attend the event at a football stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
However, coverage of the service was dominated by the decision of Cameron, Obama and Danish prime minister Thorning-Schmidt to pose for a selfie.However, coverage of the service was dominated by the decision of Cameron, Obama and Danish prime minister Thorning-Schmidt to pose for a selfie.
Asked about the incident on Wednesday, the prime minister said he was being polite when Thorning-Schmidt, the daughter-in-law of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, asked him to take part in the picture.Asked about the incident on Wednesday, the prime minister said he was being polite when Thorning-Schmidt, the daughter-in-law of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, asked him to take part in the picture.
Cameron pointed out in their defence that Mandela had played an extraordinary role in bringing people together, which is what happened in terms of diplomacy at the memorial service.Cameron pointed out in their defence that Mandela had played an extraordinary role in bringing people together, which is what happened in terms of diplomacy at the memorial service.
After the picture made headlines around the world, the prime minister was challenged over his behaviour by Martin Horwood, a Liberal Democrat MP.After the picture made headlines around the world, the prime minister was challenged over his behaviour by Martin Horwood, a Liberal Democrat MP.
"Has the prime minister had the opportunity to discuss international mobile phone usage with any other European heads of government over the last day or so?" Horwood asked during weekly prime minister's question time in the House of Commons. "Has the prime minister had the opportunity to discuss international mobile phone usage with any other European heads of government over the last day or so?" Horwood asked during prime minister's questions.
MPs laughed as Cameron replied: "You could say, in a roundabout way. Perhaps in my defence, you should always remember that the television cameras are always on.MPs laughed as Cameron replied: "You could say, in a roundabout way. Perhaps in my defence, you should always remember that the television cameras are always on.
"But in my defence I would say that Nelson Mandela played an extraordinary role in his life and in his death in bringing people together. So of course when a member of the Kinnock family asked me for a photograph, I thought it was only polite to say yes.""But in my defence I would say that Nelson Mandela played an extraordinary role in his life and in his death in bringing people together. So of course when a member of the Kinnock family asked me for a photograph, I thought it was only polite to say yes."
The photographer who took the picture of the three leaders posing for the selfie, Roberto Schmidt of news agency AFP, said that he felt the trio were "simply acting like human beings".The photographer who took the picture of the three leaders posing for the selfie, Roberto Schmidt of news agency AFP, said that he felt the trio were "simply acting like human beings".
Writing on the AFP correspondent blog, Schmidt said: "I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have. Writing on the AFP correspondent blog, Schmidt said: "I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have … I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony-faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium.
"At the time, I thought the world leaders were simply acting like human beings, like me and you. I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony-faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium. "For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural."
"For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural.
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