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Vince Cable: Osborne is cynical but will be next prime minister Vince Cable: Osborne is cynical but will be next prime minister
(about 1 hour later)
Vince Cable, the former business secretary, will single out George Osborne as “extremely shrewd politically, very cynical” and ready to let his Treasury advisers intimidate government departments such as the Department of Work and Pensions.Vince Cable, the former business secretary, will single out George Osborne as “extremely shrewd politically, very cynical” and ready to let his Treasury advisers intimidate government departments such as the Department of Work and Pensions.
In an interview with the Guardian to mark the upcoming release of his book After the Storm, Cable says the chancellor is “engaging, a good listener, and highly intelligent” before adding: “But he focused on political strategy and didn’t really engage with economic stuff – he took that from the Treasury. The economy turned out all right, but I don’t think that was because of him.”In an interview with the Guardian to mark the upcoming release of his book After the Storm, Cable says the chancellor is “engaging, a good listener, and highly intelligent” before adding: “But he focused on political strategy and didn’t really engage with economic stuff – he took that from the Treasury. The economy turned out all right, but I don’t think that was because of him.”
Related: Vince Cable: ‘The Tories collectively could be appalling’
Cable describes David Cameron as pretty hands-off and predicts Osborne will become the next prime minister.Cable describes David Cameron as pretty hands-off and predicts Osborne will become the next prime minister.
He does not dismiss the chances of the home secretary, Theresa May, but admits: “I fell out with her badly over immigration. Throughout the whole five years, we never saw eye to eye. But she’s a very formidable person, strong and effective.”He does not dismiss the chances of the home secretary, Theresa May, but admits: “I fell out with her badly over immigration. Throughout the whole five years, we never saw eye to eye. But she’s a very formidable person, strong and effective.”
He admits he has “endlessly gone over in his head” what the Liberal Democrats might have done differently to handle the decision to raise university tuition fees, in breach of a party manifesto promise. Cable says the ultimate mistake preceded joining government. “There was always scepticism about abolishing fees, but our national executive insisted on retaining this totem. That was the disaster.”He admits he has “endlessly gone over in his head” what the Liberal Democrats might have done differently to handle the decision to raise university tuition fees, in breach of a party manifesto promise. Cable says the ultimate mistake preceded joining government. “There was always scepticism about abolishing fees, but our national executive insisted on retaining this totem. That was the disaster.”
He denies he was involved in a plot to dislodge Nick Clegg as leader in 2014. “I wasn’t connected with it,” he says. “There were some MPs who felt it might improve matters if we had a change. I wasn’t involved but was in the awkward position that a lot of people who thought there should be a change wanted to change to me. There was guilt by association. But it wasn’t quite as it was portrayed in the more Machiavellian histories.”He denies he was involved in a plot to dislodge Nick Clegg as leader in 2014. “I wasn’t connected with it,” he says. “There were some MPs who felt it might improve matters if we had a change. I wasn’t involved but was in the awkward position that a lot of people who thought there should be a change wanted to change to me. There was guilt by association. But it wasn’t quite as it was portrayed in the more Machiavellian histories.”
In extracts from the book, he says it was a mistake that the coalition quad – the four most important ministers in the government – contained two ministers from the Treasury, Osborne and the Liberal Democrat chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, sitting alongside Clegg and Cameron.In extracts from the book, he says it was a mistake that the coalition quad – the four most important ministers in the government – contained two ministers from the Treasury, Osborne and the Liberal Democrat chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, sitting alongside Clegg and Cameron.
He writes: “Whatever their other admirable qualities, Nick and Danny seemed convinced of Treasury orthodoxy on matters of economic policy. I think they genuinely believed we should accept the Treasury’s received wisdom over deficits and debt as part of the Lib Dem ‘strong economy – fair society’ message. I didn’t agree.He writes: “Whatever their other admirable qualities, Nick and Danny seemed convinced of Treasury orthodoxy on matters of economic policy. I think they genuinely believed we should accept the Treasury’s received wisdom over deficits and debt as part of the Lib Dem ‘strong economy – fair society’ message. I didn’t agree.
Related: Vince Cable: ‘Historically, the coalition will be seen as a success’ – interview
“I was never sure whether the economic thinking of the Treasury originated with officials within that department, seeking to retrieve their credibility after the financial crisis, or with George Osborne and his political advisers. But it amounted to the same thing. Osborne and the Treasury had effective control over the government machine, with political cover often provided by the quad.“I was never sure whether the economic thinking of the Treasury originated with officials within that department, seeking to retrieve their credibility after the financial crisis, or with George Osborne and his political advisers. But it amounted to the same thing. Osborne and the Treasury had effective control over the government machine, with political cover often provided by the quad.
“Since I was considered difficult to sack, I could be bloody-minded. The Treasury was able to intimidate weaker departments, such as culture, media and sport, Defra and justice.“Since I was considered difficult to sack, I could be bloody-minded. The Treasury was able to intimidate weaker departments, such as culture, media and sport, Defra and justice.
“Some of the greatest pressure came on Iain Duncan Smith at the Department for Work and Pensions, whose poor, disabled, unemployed and otherwise vulnerable clients were seen as easy targets for cuts.“Some of the greatest pressure came on Iain Duncan Smith at the Department for Work and Pensions, whose poor, disabled, unemployed and otherwise vulnerable clients were seen as easy targets for cuts.
“IDS was a significant figure, and a fundamentally decent man, but he spent much of his time fighting off pubescent advisers and Treasury officials with cruel ideas for saving money.”“IDS was a significant figure, and a fundamentally decent man, but he spent much of his time fighting off pubescent advisers and Treasury officials with cruel ideas for saving money.”