CONTROVERSIAL decisions nationally should not affect the Lib Dems’ reputation in Oxfordshire, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg claimed last night.

The Liberal Democrat party leader praised local party councillors as he toured a top research centre at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus near Didcot.

He said: “I admit what we are having to do in Government nationally is controversial and in some respects down right unpopular but I don’t think that retracts from the outstanding performance of the Lib Dems in the Vale.

“Lib Dem councillors have worked so hard and so constantly and they are now delivering a successful council.”

Mr Clegg visited Harwell’s Diamond Light Source, which uses state-of-the-art technology to produce incredibly bright lights and study atoms.