“Gordon Brown has failed to explain to the British people why we are in Afghanistan, and how we are going to succeed,” said Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat Leader.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech on Afghanistan this morning, Nick Clegg said:
 
“This speech is a woefully belated attempt to win over public support for a war that has cost so many lives.
 
“The Prime Minister has finally acknowledged that the British people will always back our brave British troops in the dangerous work they do, but they will not unconditionally support soldiers being sent to fight and die for a corrupt and illegitimate government in Kabul.
 
“Since he entered Number 10, Gordon Brown has failed to explain to the British people why we are in Afghanistan, and how we are going to succeed.
 
“The brutal truth is that we will not succeed in Afghanistan without a new and workable international plan covering everything from our military tactics to political reconciliation.”