Clegg's redemption?

Speaking in the House of Commons on 5 April, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg valiantly took up the cause of the 'informal intern', condemning employers who exploit them and arguing that unpaid internships are a barrier to social mobility because they tend to be vastly more accessible to the wealthy and well-connected than to most other members of society. Obtaining the best internships, claims Mr Clegg, requires connections, and sustaining an unpaid position for any length of time is generally difficult unless heavily subsidised by parents.

On the face of it, Mr Clegg's stance is a compassionate and credit-worthy one. But before we praise him too readily, we must question his integrity. Among political parties, the Liberal Democrats are some of the worst offenders when it comes to using unpaid interns to strengthen their ranks. Not only that, but Mr Clegg has donned the guise of a crusader for social mobility before, declaring his intention to abolish tuition fees — only to join a government which then trebled them.

If Clegg's position is genuine this time, he should lead by example, first ensuring that his party pays their own interns their due. Then he should propose a legislative amendment to clarify the legal status of an intern.

The reforms need not be too radical: the fundamental concept of an internship is a good one. As a means of providing a few months of vocational education for a profession, it makes ample sense. But all too often the position is distored by employers keen to use interns in lieu of paid employees. The introduction of a minimum apprenticeship wage or the enforcement of current minimum wage laws would make excellent starting points.

Once again, Mr Clegg finds himself the banner-bearer for a noble cause. Hopefully this time will be less of a disappointment than the last.