(Liberal Democrat Business Secretary) Vince Cable: I could bring down the (British) Government

[Turborama]

Source: Telegraph (UK)

Vince Cable has privately threatened to “bring the Government down” if he is “pushed too far” during fractious discussions with his Conservative colleagues, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

By Holly Watt, Robert Winnett and Heidi Blake | 9:30PM GMT Dec 20 2010 -

The Business Secretary also claims that David Cameron will seek to scrap or reduce the winter fuel allowance paid to pensioners from next year.

He believes that policies are being rushed through by the Conservatives and that ministers should be “putting a brake on” some proposals, which are in “danger of getting out of control”. Mr Cable says that, behind the scenes, the Tories and Liberal Democrats are fighting a “constant battle”, including over tax proposals. Likening the conflict to a war, he says he can always use the “nuclear option” of resignation. His departure from the Government would spell the end of the Coalition, he claims.

The disclosures emerged in a secret recording of a conversation Mr Cable had with two reporters from The Daily Telegraph posing as Lib Dem voters in his constituency.

They provide the first concrete evidence of the level of distrust and infighting taking place within the Coalition. His comments indicate that the public professions of support between the parties may not be a true reflection of what is occurring in Cabinet. Mr Cable has appeared uncomfortable in the Coalition and his comments will lead to speculation that he could be the first high-­profile member of the Government to quit.

Following divisions within the Lib Dems over the raising of tuition fees, this newspaper has begun an investigation into the party’s true feelings towards the Coalition and it discloses widespread unease.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/8215462/Vince-Cable-I-could-bring-down-the-Government.html

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Vince Cable: 'I have a nuclear option' (VIDEO)
In an undercover interview by The Daily Telegraph investigative reporters, Business Secretary Vince Cable has revealed he would be prepared to bring the Coalition government down over a political issue he disagreed with.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraphtv/8215245/Vince-Cable-I-have-a-nuclear-option.html

Vince Cable: the full transcript
Daily Telegraph reporters Holly Watt and Laura Roberts went undercover to find out what Vince Cable really thinks of the coalition.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/8215501/Vince-Cable-the-full-transcript.html

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. He'll never pull the trigger....

...the LibDem ministers, junior ministers, secretaries, can't all land on their feet in the nine or ten -- and LibDems could be down to that -- Somerset, Devon and Cornwall constituencies they can still expect to carry next general election.

Musical chairs has better odds -- there's n-1 chairs, where n is the number of players. The LibDems face a far harder equation. They may be in the coalition, but they were already net -5 seats in the last election -- when they were popular.

[rpannier]

2. So I guess he agreed with raising the fees

Since he did nothing when they were raised
Sounds like anothe politician who enjoys making bold claims but isn't willing to back it up

[nyy1998]

3. Well, now the rumours will start, I'd be shocked if this govt lasted until May.

[T_i_B]

4. Why are you still believing anything I say, asks Vince Cable

http://newsthump.com/2010/12/21/why-are-you-still-believing-anything-i-say-asks-vince-cable/

Cabinet Minister Vince Cable this morning asked why people are continuing to believe any of the words that come out of his mouth.

Cable was secretly recorded explaining that being in the coalition was like a ‘war’, that the Lib Dems and Tories don’t get on, and that he could bring down the government by resigning – prompting accusations that he might actually be telling the truth this time.

However the business secretary has issued a statement explaining that it would be easier, and less embarrassing for all concerned, if people could just assume everything he ever says is a lie.

His statement read, “I am embarrassed that people are still applying any level of importance whatsoever to anything I say, and hope that in future people can regard my statements with the wheelbarrow load of salt they deserve. Including this one. I realise that when I give two diametrically opposed statements, the chances are that one of them might be true, but it’s probably best to assume they’re both absolute bullshit.”

[Turborama]

5. LOL! I wonder how many wheelbarrows of salt will be needed for the Cameron/Clegg press conference

In a few hours.

Thanks for that laugh, I'm going to bookmark that site.

BTW Is "Have I got news for you" still running? I used to love watching that show when I lived in England.

I'm a huge fan of "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" and really miss Humph, peace be upon him.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnwb

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Yes, HIGNFY is still going

Still with Ian Hislop (still editor of Private Eye) and Paul Merton on each team. They got rid of Angus Deayton (maybe they already had when you last saw it) because there were rather embarrassing stories about him, cocaine and prostitutes, and they thought the others would spend too much time taking the piss out of him, especially if a cocaine or prostitute subject came up.

[defendandprotect]

6. hmmmm.......????