MP Vince Cable waltzes in to tip Lib Dem victory

IT WASN’T all economic doom and gloom when Lib Dem shadow chancellor Vince Cable came to Islington yesterday (Thursday), as the twinkle-toed MP revealed a desire to dance on ice.

Speaking to the Tribune at a business brunch at Frederick’s in Camden Passage, Mr Cable said he would love to have a go at ITV’s skating competition Dancing on Ice.

The politician, who has made no secret of his love of ballroom dance and once famously danced with Strictly Come Dancing judge and popstar Aleesha Dixon, said: “I don’t know how to skate. I learned to ski in my 60s so I’m always up for these things. It would be a challenge. I like taking these things on.”

But he soon moved on to more serious subjects as he spoke to representatives from the borough’s businesses, council leader Lib Dem councillor Terry Stacy, and Islington South prospective parliamentary candidate Bridget Fox.

He may be seen by some to have one of the sharpest economic minds in the country, but Mr Cable will not be helping his party in Islington with this year’s budget.

He said he would “absolutely not” be intervening, despite Islington Lib Dems losing control of their budget to Labour last year.

Mr Cable said: “That’s a serious question. We’re a bottom-up party, I learn from what our councils are doing, I don’t tell them what to do, absolutely not.

“We do believe in local decision-making. 

“One of our strengths is that we’re well established in local government, we run seven of the 10 largest cities in England and Wales and run them mostly very well. They serve as an example of what we would like to do nationally, which is to have very tight control of finance, getting rid of waste. 

“Some of our councils have taken very tough decisions, but at the same time keeping a very clear set of priorities particularly in education, economic development, working with local businesses. We want to see local government having more independence. For example, commercial rates should be transferred to local government so they have discretion.”

Mr Cable backed Ms Fox to win the Islington South seat from Labour MP Emily Thornberry, saying: “We want and expect Bridget to win here for the very simple reason that this is a head-to-head battle between the Lib Dems and Labour and most Conservative-inclined people in this area will realise that that’s the choice they have. 

“We have a strong track record in local government, an excellent candidate. It’s a two-horse race and we’ve got a very good set of messages at a national level about taxation, sorting out the problems in the economy, restructuring the British economy, that’s dependent on the banking system, reforming the political system with all the sleaze and parliamentary scandals and investing very heavily in education.”

Ms Fox said: “It’s great to have someone like Vince and it’s exciting for me to be candidate in a place that could well elect a Lib Dem MP and therefore get Vince closer to the doors of no 11.” 
ROISIN GADELRAB