Vince Cable names Lord Oakeshott as source of polling – and slaps him down

In the past few minutes, Vince Cable has issued this statement on the leaked ICM polling:

‘Lord Oakeshott’s actions are totally inexcusable and unacceptable. I have made it very clear repeatedly that he does not speak or act for me.

‘Commissioning and publishing polls without the consent of the Member of Parliament, as in the case of Sheffield Hallam, is utterly reprehensible.

‘There are undoubtedly raw feelings in the wake of poor local and European election results. We need to respond in a measured way. Public speculation about the leadership is an unwelcome distraction and as I made absolutely clear yesterday there is no leadership issue as far as I’m concerned.’

Oakeshott has not responded to requests for comment all day. He also did not respond to Charlotte Henry when she approached him with her piece about his link with one of the alleged main agitators behind the plot to oust Clegg, which she outlines here.