But beyond the photo shoot and crafted media message lines, was a second, more exclusive meeting between Mr Clegg and the director-generals of key lobby groups. This meeting wasn't briefed out but was apparently a quite detailed debate about tactics going forward.
"We pooled intelligence and talked about how big inward investors want reassurance about Britain's place in Europe," said one attendee, who described the deputy prime minister's mood as "workmanlike".
Nick Clegg leads business fightback in Europe
December 16, 2011 10:24 AM
Originally published by East Midlands Liberal Democrats
Originally published by East Midlands Liberal Democrats
Nick Clegg yesterday made a very public display of engagement with business over Europe as the deputy prime minister convened a business breakfast with Business For New Europe, a pro-single market group. Mr Clegg, flanked by Vince Cable, Danny Alexander, Chris Huhne David Laws, wanted to get the message across that he had dusted himself down and was ready to begin work on rebuilding relations on the continent after a bruising week for Britain.