Nick Clegg hit by paint in attack

25 August 2011 Last updated at 14:35 ET

Nick Clegg was attacked in Glasgow’s West End

A man has been arrested after Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was splattered with blue paint in Glasgow.

Mr Clegg’s suit and face were struck as he arrived at Woodside Hall in the west of the city for a meeting with Lib Dem party activists.

The BBC understands an anti-cuts campaigner has said he carried out the attack in protest at the Lib Dem’s coalition with the Conservatives.

A man, in his 20s, is being held for an alleged breach of the peace.

Scottish Lib Dems leader Willie Rennie and police officers were also splattered by paint, said BBC correspondent Raymond Buchanan.

Our correspondent said there had already been a claim of responsibility for the incident on the internet.

“It suggests the blue paint was a protest at Mr Clegg’s decision to share power with the Conservatives and embark on a cuts agenda,” he said.

Our correspondent said that as Mr Clegg entered the hall, paint was thrown in his direction and struck his face and the back of his suit, but left him uninjured.

The incident is understood to have happened shortly after Mr Clegg had emerged from his car.

Mr Clegg appeared to shrug off the incident, telling Real Radio Scotland: “These things happen. It’s not a big deal.”

And his spokesman told the BBC that Mr Clegg was not going to “allow a bit of paint to stop him speaking to Liberal Democrats in Glasgow – that would be ridiculous”.

‘Laughed off’

Speaking after the attack, Mr Rennie said: “It was two disgruntled individuals, who chose not to speak about their concerns in advance but were purely interested in a stunt.

“Their behaviour has only obscured any message that they may have had. I’ve always wanted a blue streak in my hair but my mother wouldn’t let me.”

Carol Shedden, of Real Radio Scotland, told Sky News: “He [Clegg] laughed it off.

“People rushed to his aid to wipe it off, there were still traces of the blue paint on his clothing.”

The deputy prime minister has been on a tour of the north of England and Scotland over the past few days.

Mr Clegg’s engagement went ahead, our correspondent said.

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