When asked about his views on TTIP during the Bite the Ballot Leaders’ Live Debate, Nick Clegg said:

“I would never endorse TTIP, which is a big new deal which is being negotiated between Europe and America, unless it was absolutely crystal clear that we are allowed to do exactly what we want with our public services, with our cherished NHS, without being undermined by TTIP.

“We, as a government, are making sure that that is clearly there in writing by the EU negotiators and the European Commission for us to see, that there is no threat to the NHS, which I know is a fear that has been raised.

“I would never endorse TTIP if that were the case. I think that if I want my children and my grandchildren, if I want future generations to live in a world where the standards are set by our hemisphere, in Europe and across the Atlantic in America, and not just all set on the other side of the planet in Asia or Latin America, then having America and Europe sort out some things together, I think, is in the long term interests for us as we all move ever more in this globalised world.

“But it cannot, must not, and will not happen at the expense of our sovereign right to run the NHS the way we want.”