After two consecutive drubbings by Nigel Farage in the televised debates on Europe, it appears that Nick Clegg is not the man to make a popular case for Britain staying in the European Union. A Guardian/ICM instant poll showed that 69% of respondents favoured the Ukip leader on the night - but recent polls on the question of 'in or out' of the EU have been much closer. So can a compelling, popular case for Europe be made?
Joining Tom Clark this week are Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, economics editor Larry Elliott, and editor-at-large of Reuters News Hugo Dixon, author of The In/Out Question: Why Britain should stay in the EU and fight to make it better.
Also this week, a damning report from the National Audit Office showed that the taxpayer was short-changed by up to £750m on the first day of the privatisation of Royal Mail. The sale of the state-owned postal company was overseen by Vince Cable under the advice of several large banks - and has been roundly criticised as a massive undervaluation. The shares have shot up 70% since their stock market debut last year - with several of the preferred institutional investors cashing out leaving many of the shares in the hands of hedge funds and foreign investors.
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