Some good news for the troubled Liberal Democrats. Their acting leader Vince Cable is winning plaudits for shining a light on the possible losses to taxpayers from the Government's £24bn loan to Northern Rock, which is becoming a very nasty headache for ministers.
The Chancellor Alistair Darling was on the ropes in the Commons this
afternoon after appearing to change his line on whether taxpayers
would get all their money back. Last month he told a Commons committee
that "we fully expect to be able to get that money back". Today he
talked about doing "the best to protect the taxpayer".
Cable (pictured), who has taken his party's ratings from 11% to 18% since the demise of Sir Menzies Campbell, has done so well on Northern Rock that some LibDems are wondering why he didn't enter their leadership race. My LibDem mole explains: "He lacks a crucial ingredient - hair."
Cable has always been an impressive if understated performer. Anybody who has heard him speak will know what I mean. He's wise on a personal level not to go for the leadership but it's a bad blow for his party. He's exactly the kind of principled (see the Saudi affair) politician who could win lots of votes without coming across as a media player or somebody with an axe to grind.
Posted by: fay | Monday, 19 November 2007 at 08:14 PM