Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrat General Election Battle Bus Struggles With A Left Turn
Five Years Of Coalition Leaves Lib Dems Unable To Negotiate The Left Anymore
Ryan Barrell— The Huffington Post UK
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ABINGDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: The Liberal Democrat's battle bus negotiates a tight turn as it arrives with leader Nick Clegg who was to launch the party's General Election 2015 campaign on March 29, 2015 in Abingdon, England. The Liberal Democratic party started it's election campaign in the Oxford West and Abingdon consituancy today where Mr Clegg unveiled the Liberal Democrat election battle bus and met with candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Imag
On the day of parliament's dissolution, which signals the first day of the campaign, Nick Clegg's huge yellow battle bus was stopped in its tracks - by a slightly narrow road.
The Deputy PM unveiled his very yellow campaign vehicle in the marginal seat of Oxford West and Abingdon, which is apparently home to many roads not made for giant political buses.
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Clegg is expected to use the bus to traverse the country encouraging people to vote for his party and visiting activists across the nation. If he can get it out of Oxfordshire.
The 14-metre luxury coach, which is bright yellow on the inside, weighs 25 tonnes and doesn't like tight bends. Maybe it should stick to more centre-left.
Speaking to The Telegraph, a party spokesperson claimed the vehicle had simply stopped to accommodate a media request and wasn't stuck.
She said: "During today's visit to Oxford West and Abingdon the Lib Dem battle bus was stopped by the side of the road in front of a 70 strong crowd of activists and traffic continued flowing normally. Other than that the bus was not stopped at any point."
Sure.
At least they weren't alone - the Labour Party had a bit of bus trouble too.
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Not a good day for those left-of-centre, it seems.
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The Conservative Party General Election 'battle bus' in Westminster, London, as one of the most closely-contested general elections for decades formally gets under way today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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General Election 2015 campaign - March 27th(03 of09)
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The Labour Party unveils their General Election battle bus for the first time, as Labour officially launched their 2015 campaign at the Olympic Park in London. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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ABINGDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg speaks to activists as he launches the party's General Election 2015 campaign on March 29, 2015 in Abingdon, England. The Liberal Democratic party started it's election campaign in the Oxford West and Abingdon consituancy today where Mr Clegg unveiled the Liberal Democrat election battle bus and met with candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
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ABINGDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: The Liberal Democrat's battle bus arrives with leader Nick Clegg who was to launch the party's General Election 2015 campaign on March 29, 2015 in Abingdon, England. The Liberal Democratic party started it's election campaign in the Oxford West and Abingdon consituancy today where Mr Clegg unveiled the Liberal Democrat election battle bus and met with candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
The Liberal Democrats Launch Their 2015 Election Campaign(06 of09)
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ABINGDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: The Liberal Democrat's battle bus negotiates a tight turn as it arrives with leader Nick Clegg who was to launch the party's General Election 2015 campaign on March 29, 2015 in Abingdon, England. The Liberal Democratic party started it's election campaign in the Oxford West and Abingdon consituancy today where Mr Clegg unveiled the Liberal Democrat election battle bus and met with candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
The Liberal Democrats Launch Their 2015 Election Campaign(07 of09)
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ABINGDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: Activists gather to see Nick Clegg launch the party's General Election 2015 campaign on March 29, 2015 in Abingdon, England. The Liberal Democratic party started it's election campaign in the Oxford West and Abingdon consituancy today where Mr Clegg unveiled the Liberal Democrat election battle bus and met with candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
The Liberal Democrats Launch Their 2015 Election Campaign(08 of09)
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ABINGDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: The Liberal Democrat's battle bus arrives with leader Nick Clegg who was to launch the party's General Election 2015 campaign on March 29, 2015 in Abingdon, England. The Liberal Democratic party started it's election campaign in the Oxford West and Abingdon consituancy today where Mr Clegg unveiled the Liberal Democrat election battle bus and met with candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
The Liberal Democrats Launch Their 2015 Election Campaign(09 of09)
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ABINGDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: The Liberal Democrat's battle bus arrives with leader Nick Clegg who was to launch the party's General Election 2015 campaign on March 29, 2015 in Abingdon, England. The Liberal Democratic party started it's election campaign in the Oxford West and Abingdon consituancy today where Mr Clegg unveiled the Liberal Democrat election battle bus and met with candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)