The Thickness of Cable

Apparently Vince Cable, (who seems to be leader of the Liberal Democrats these days), thinks that it isn't inconceivable that he could be Prime Minister after the next election.  Actually, it is - completely and utterly inconceivable.  It is impossible to envisage a political scenario where he could be back in government, let alone Prime Minister.  Discarding the totally ludicrous idea that the Lib Dems could garner sufficient to support to form a majority, one has to assume that Cable's fantasy rests on another hung parliament in which he has sufficient seats to hold the balance of power.  Unfortunately for Cable, I really can't see any way that either of the two main parties would agree to a coalition with the Lib Dems with him as Prime Minister.  Indeed, it is hard to see either of them being willing to enter into a coalition of any kind with the Lib Dems, regardless of Cable's position.  After the 2010-2015 coalition government (in which Cable served), I don't see the Tories being in any hurry to repeat the experience and I don't see Labour rushing to get into bed with the Lib Dems after they enabled what was, in effect, a right wing Tory government.  More to the point, I doubt very much that the Lib Dems rank and file membership would wear either another coalition with the Tories, or with Labour under Corbyn.


But the real issue here is Cable himself - this latest flight of fancy on his part simply highlights the man's hubris.  He really seems to believe that he is some kind of political giant.  The media's constant indulgence of him undoubtedly stokes his high opinion of himself - they forever try to make out that he is some kind of political elder statesman imbued with the wisdom of ages.  The reality is that his time in government revealed him to be incompetent and illiberal: a reactionary forever threatening Trade Unions and workers rights. His hubris eventually laid him low when he was caught out in a newspaper sting - he just couldn't help boasting to what he thought were constituents (but actually undercover reporters) of how he was going to use his position as Secretary of State for Piggy Banks (or whatever it was) to frustrate Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of Sky.  Not surprisingly, this lack of discretion resulted in the decision over the controversial takeover bid being taken away from him and given to Jeremy Hunt, instead.

But, perhaps worst of all, Cable is a bore.  As a public sleeper he can put you to sleep.  I speak from personal experience, havng had the misfortune to hear him speak - utter tedium.  As I've said before, however, the media frequently mistakes dullness for gravitas and assume that Cable's saying something important and profound.  Which, in reality, he never does.  Of course, there's still a chance he might wind up in Number Ten again - probably by trying to climb in through Larry the Cat's cat flap.  But thefact is that he has proven quite conclusively, that he is unfit ever to be allowed near the levers of power again.