Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, responding to Liberal Democrat MP David Ward’s claim that many people see Nick Clegg as ‘toxic’, said:

“Even Nick Clegg’s MPs know the truth. The Lib Dems broke their promises, have been too weak to stand up to the Tories and now people can’t trust a word Nick Clegg says.

"The Lib Dems want to talk about the future but even their MPs know they can’t run away from their record.

"Nick Clegg may try to pretend that Tory policies are nothing to do with them – even though they voted for them. Whether the bedroom tax or tax cuts for millionaires, the truth is the Tories couldn’t have done it without them.”

David Ward, Bradford East MP, on BBC Sunday Politics (Yorkshire & Lincolnshire opt out section) yesterday:

“There is an awareness that to many people Nick [Clegg] is toxic. It does not mean that the candidates themselves believe that, but yes there is an image problem that Nick has and that needs to be addressed as we go through the election campaign.”