UK’s Nick Clegg laughs off leaked debate preparation notes ahead of Thursday confrontation

UK’s Clegg laughs off leaked debate notes

LONDON — Conservative Party leader David Cameron should be flattered.

Leaked notes show that Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is being advised to copy Cameron’s approach at the next debate.

But Prime Minister Gordon Brown may be insulted. Clegg is warned to distance himself from Brown, who it says will be characterized as “weird” when the candidates square off Thursday night.

Clegg joked Wednesday about the debate notes, which were apparently left in a taxi by a senior aide and leaked to the Sun newspaper.

The underdog candidate, whose poll numbers have surged, says he is glad his aides are preparing for government by leaving secret dossiers in taxi cabs. The joke was a reference to the loss of secret documents in recent years, including some left on trains.