Nick Clegg: I blocked Lord Howard's appointment as EU commissioner

Lord Howard's appointment as the UK's EU commissioner was blocked by Nick Clegg, the former Liberal Democrat leader has disclosed.

The former Tory leader had been tipped to take the top job in 2014 during the Coalition Government.

Mr Cameron had wanted to appoint someone who could play hardball with Brussels ahead of the planned EU referendum which will be held by 2017.

But Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 4's World at One that he had blocked the appointment of Lord Howard.

Lord Hill, the ex-leader of the House of Lords, took up the role instead.

Mr Clegg said: "I remember David Cameron at one point suggesting that Michael Howard should be Britain's European commissioner and I blocked that because I thought we don't need a 'touch of the night' in Brussels on behalf of Britain."

His “touch of the night” comment referred to former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe’s jibe about Lord Howard in which she said "there is something of the night about him".

His comments came as he denied rejecting the appointment of Lord Ashcroft to a senior role.

Lord Ashcroft claims in a new book, Call Me Dave, that David Cameron told him he would be denied a new role because of Mr Clegg's intervention.

But Mr Clegg said: "No, I don't recollect that at all. It wouldn't have been David Cameron's role to block my suggestions about Liberal Democrat ministerial appointments.

"I'm now used to the Conservatives using me as an alibi for awkward decisions that they have to face in their own party."