The question over Clegg being a member of the Cambridge University Conservative Association has been hanging around for a few weeks now, with speculation flowing back and forth.  But ultimately, whether he was or wasn’t a member, what does it matter?  The time spent at university is one of intellectual development, but perhaps more importantly it’s a time of personal development. 

When I started university I wasn’t politically active (or indeed even interested), and by the time I left university I still wasn’t politically active (or indeed even interested).  In fact it wasn’t until the last half of my master’s degree that I became interested.  Many of my friends however entered university with strong political opinions in one direction (usually Labour) and left with political opinions in a completely different direction. 

And that’s the thing, for a classic liberal like Clegg there isn’t a massive jump from the Conservative Party to the liberal wing of the LibDems (I’m a classic liberal and I quite happily consider myself a conservative). 

So, even if Clegg was a member of CUCA what’s the big deal?  Yup, there isn’t one.