Cutting deals

The Telegraph’s Iain Martin quotes a “Labour man,” who offers the following take on the next general election:

“Brown holds the election, fights on the economy and emerges at the head of the largest party. Vince Cable becomes leader of the Lib Dems, is made Chancellor in a coalition and demands a deal on Proportional Representation which Gordon gives him. PR means the Tories can never win again. Gordon stays as PM for a while and then walks off into the sunset having destroyed the Conservatives.”

Now, this highlights two things in particular.  First, the growing confidence in Labour ranks that their man can actually defeat Cameron – a confidence that’s palpable ’round Westminster way.  And, second, the role that Vince Cable may have to play in any political wranglings between now and the election.  I may be reading too much into things, but it’s struck me over recent weeks how often Nick Clegg seems willing to unite, however loosely, with the Tories (the Damian Green affair is a good example of this), whereas Cable is frequently one of George Osborne’s most vehement detractors.