Olympics: Clegg calls for Torch to skip Tibet

Politics.co.uk reports:

Gordon Brown’s decision not to attend the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony is not enough for Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who has called for the prime minister to object to China’s plan to take the Olympic torch to Tibet.

“He should now follow his decision not to attend the opening ceremony by insisting that the Chinese quickly enter into negotiations with the Dalai Lama and abandon the needlessly provocative plan to parade the torch through Tibet,” he said.

Mr Clegg criticised the prime minister for doing “the right thing under pressure, rather than out of conviction”.

“From his reluctance to bring up human rights during his recent visit to China, to his last minute agreement to meet the Dalai Lama, the prime minister has failed to show real leadership on this vital issue,” he said.