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Young Voters Quiz Nick Clegg Over Tuition Fees

The Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has answered questions about his party's failure to scrap university fees during a live question-and-answer session in central London.

Mr Clegg spoke at Sky News' Stand Up Be Counted : Ask The Leaders event, which is helping young people address their concerns to Westminster politicians.

During questioning from young voters, Mr Clegg said: "Of course I apologise for the fact that particular policy of my party we could not implement.

"I sometimes wish I could hear an apology from David Cameron for not implementing his policy he promised on immigration, or Ed Miliband for crashing the economy in the first place.

"But that is the way these things are."

Insaf Abbas asked the Liberal Democrat leader what the party plans to do to help doctors working in major incident hospitals across Britain.

Mr Clegg responded: "The biggest thing we are going to do, which we are not going to do overnight, is work out how we keep people healthy in their own homes and communities so we do not have an increasing number of people going to A&E.

"We have an increasingly large number of elderly people who might fall at home or have a long-term condition. They go into hospital by way of A&E and then they go into bed.

"Even though your mum and dad may decide they can leave hospital, it is difficult to find a place for them in the community. We need to get on and integrate social care and healthcare."

Mr Clegg was also asked why "important life-saving services always suffer, but there is money for Trident?"

"I think a like-for-like replacement for Trident is a nonsense," Mr Clegg responded.

"This was a nuclear weapons system that was designed to flatten Moscow at the touch of a button in the Cold War. I have been told that decommissioning costs a huge amount of money.

"Whilst I might agree with what lies behind the question, I am afraid changing tack on Trident does not suddenly produce a whole load of money for the NHS."

Prime Minister David Cameron was questioned by young voters about the Government's decision to fly flags at half-mast following the death of the Saudi King last month.

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett was the first politician to speak at today's event, followed by Labour's Ed Miliband.

During questioning from young voters, Ms Bennett called for a "peaceful political revolution" in British politics .

And Mr Miliband was questioned by young people about tax avoidance, and criticised the Boots chairman Stefano Pessina.

The Labour leader said British voters should not be "told how to vote by someone who avoids paying his taxes" .

The attack came after Monaco-based Mr Pessina said Mr Miliband's plans for Britain are "not helpful for business, not helpful for the country and in the end it probably won't be helpful for them".

Send your reactions and comments throughout the day - just use #AskTheLeaders.

:: Watch a Sky News special programme tonight at 8.30pm on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freesat channel 202 and Freeview channel 132.