Nick Clegg arrives for a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, in London (Pic:Getty)

Nick Clegg arrives for a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, in London (Pic:Getty)

NICK Clegg is plotting to attend the next summit of European leaders to stop David Cameron from leaving Britain on the sidelines.

The Deputy Prime Minister was furious at Mr Cameron's veto of this month's EU treaty aimed at saving the single currency.

Mr Clegg did not attend and was not consulted by Mr Cameron about the decision. The Lib Dem leader made his feelings clear by snubbing the Prime Minister's "victory" statement to MPs.

And Mr Clegg's aides say he is now pushing to "set the agenda" at the next EU gathering in Brussels at the end of January. He will also be hosting a meeting of liberal-minded ministers from other EU states in London on January 9.

As many as 25 ministers from eight or more countries will attend, including senior Lib Dem Cabinet ministers Vince Cable, Danny Alexander and Chris Huhne.

A source close to Mr Clegg said: "Nick's key concerns are competitiveness, long term growth and jobs in the EU.

"That is an agenda that the Coalition as a whole wants to pursue." But the source revealed there had not yet been Coalition talks involving Mr Cameron about whether they should both go to the Brussels summit.

Mr Huhne yesterday fanned tensions between his party and Tory eurosceptics by warning the PM's stance could leave Britain "semi-detached" from Europe.

"It is not in the national interest to be in a purely passive relationship, where our interests are being determined by other people," he said. Labour's Shadow Europe Minister Emma Reynolds said: "These comments from a Cabinet minister confirm what we have been saying all along – David Cameron's reckless decision to walk away from the table risks having a profound impact on the British economy."

EU President Herman Van Rompuy, meanwhile, has sent The World Book of Happiness to European leaders, including Mr Cameron. Written by scientists and experts in positive psychology, it urges countries to help bail out debt-stricken nations.

"Money can buy happiness, if we spend it on others," it says.

Jason Beattie analysis

SO now we know what Nick Clegg has asked Santa for this Christmas: to be at the next summit of European leaders.

The Deputy PM is still angry over David Cameron's veto at the last EU meeting. Mr Clegg is the most pro-European of all the main party leaders. He's half-Dutch, married to a Spaniard and speaks several languages.

Sometimes he even makes sense in English. But he has more chance of getting a ride on Santa's sleigh than on the same Eurostar as Mr Cameron.
The Prime Minister's one major freedom as head of a Coalition is the right to represent Britain on the world stage.

Taking Clegg along would be like Andy Murray having to play the Wimbledon doubles' final with one of the ball boys.