Cable separates his own brand from the Lib Dems
Peter Hoskin 5:23pm
So are Vince Cable's public spending cuts his own, or are they Lib Dem policy? In his Straight Talk interview with the Lib Dem treasury spokesman this weekend, Andrew Neil tries to get to the bottom of it all. The result? Well, according to Cable, Nick Clegg "approved" his pamphlet for the think tank Reform, and some of its contents could find their way into the party's manifesto:
"A lot of it is already Lib Dem policy, a lot of it already is, the rest of it will have to be considered and we’ll go into an election with a manifesto, we have a due process. Maybe because of who I am a lot of it will be there, but some of it may not be, it has to be agreed with my colleagues of course."
As James said earlier this week, it's amazing just how much latitude Cable gets. Effectively, what he's admitting above is that he can make policy proposals which aren't official Lib Dem policy; that Brand Cable sometimes comes before the party. Can you imagine if Alistair Darling and George Osborne admitted the same?
Elsewhere in the interview, Cable also says that he was wrong to support the merger of Lloyds TSB and HBOS last year. As he puts it: "My first reaction was not the right one". Woah. Careful there, Vince – you don't want to contaminate the brand.
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Irene
September 18th, 2009 5:34pm Report this commentI am not a fan.
I think he is starting to believe his own publicity.
Clegg says one thing Cable says another and no fuss is made.
strapworld
September 18th, 2009 6:03pm Report this commentCable is a legend in his own mind! I well remember Clarke and Redwood demolishing this man in Parliament.
Why is nobody concerned about the news that the German Parliament approved its Special Status under the Lisbon Treaty?
The BBC reported,briefly, the passage of the legislation through the German Lower House as follows:"German lawmakers have approved legislative changes paving the way for ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty".
The lower house (Bundestag) backed the legislation with 494 votes in favour, 46 against and two abstentions.
These changes give the German parliament a bigger say over EU matters that concern Germany.
The country's Constitutional Court called for these changes in June.
So who is controlling the EU now?
Did Brown obtain similar safeguards? Of course not! Is Cameron demanding them? If he is he is whispering them!!
Charlie
September 18th, 2009 6:10pm Report this commentCable isone of the few only politician who acknowledges the seriousness of the situation( Field is another ) and has started to produce realistic solutions to the debt problem. For a politcian to admit to making a mistake is extremely rare , for which he should be congratulated. Cable and Field are some of the very few politicians who can earn respect from across the political spectrum because the public realise they speak with authority born of competence.
Bruce Robertson
September 18th, 2009 7:47pm Report this commentCable was the only parliamentarian to warn of the housing bubble - back in 2003. For that reason alone he deserves kudos.
In2minds
September 18th, 2009 7:50pm Report this comment“As James said earlier this week, it's amazing just how much latitude Cable gets”.
No it's not, what's amazing is that anyone takes the LibDems best dancer seriously. Cable is typical of the LibDems which is not so much a political party but more of a 'thinking aloud club'. They're a joke.
Ian
September 18th, 2009 8:54pm Report this commentI suppose that based on a saturation approach, Mr. Cable may make the occasional prediction that's not completely wrong.
Either way, he still comes across as an appallingly sanctimonious know-all.
It's such a pity that Mr. Clegg is too weak to sack him.
Anne Wotana Kaye
September 19th, 2009 9:52am Report this commentThis morning BBC mentioned that Clegg woud like Child Benefit Allowances to be subject to a Means Test. Excellent idea, but the Means Test I advocate, will not, I think gain much approval. Middle class, hard-working parents should receive help in educating their children, and make it easier for them to provide all that enriches a well rounded childhood: music and art, sports and books, plenty of books. Those offspring of generations of disfunctional mothers, and mostly absent or unknown fathers, should receive nothing. The money should not be given to these feral characters to waste on drugs, drink and piercing parlours. They should rather be encouraged to hand up their children for adoption at birth, thus giving the poor babies a chance of a decent life, and saving the State millions in wasted money. The mainly useless Social Services could be disbanded, and housing policies changed, allowing decent families to more easily obtain social housing, rather than the ferals who quickly turn decent accomodation into sink estates. This I am sure, is not the Nat Lib idea of Means Testing!
strapworld
September 19th, 2009 12:08pm Report this commentAnne Wotana Kaye, Your suggestion was the great religion of the twenties and thirties, 'Eugenics'.
You should read about it and you may discover that it was the Global Warming religion of its day! everyone from World Leaders to parish priests believed in it!! It, like global warming, ended with a mighty thump.
Incidentally most of the middle class children, you rate so highly, are more likely to succumb to drugs etc that the ferrel youths you identify.
Sir or madam, YOU are a snob and a prat! (Cameron's word so it must be okay)
Anne Wotana Kaye
September 19th, 2009 1:31pm Report this commentStrapworld, your ignorance only exceeds your vulgarity. I am not advocating the destruction of the disabled, I am trying to prevent unworthy parents destroying the lives of their children. You are obviously led by politically correct ideas which have no substance. I will not call you names, I am sure there are others more able.
Ian
September 19th, 2009 2:10pm Report this commentTo get this back onto Cable and his ridiculous reputation as an economic oracle, as Guido points out, Andrew Neill gave him a good going over on this week's Straight Talk. He didn't like it one bit.
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