Coalition Tensions: Vince Cable’s Future

December 22, 2010 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

He has not yet offered to resign. I think he will. When he does it will not bring down the Coalition, but it will change its nature. An unhappy Liberal Democrat parliamentary party, prodded constantly by unhappy activists in its constituencies, will acquire a leader and a spokesman, who is hugely popular in the country, whose status as a national treasure is, if anything enhanced by his candid indiscretions, which may offend the political establishment, but strike a chord with voters everywhere and Lib Dems especially.

This will mean that the Coalition no longer has an assured majority, especially as an emboldened Tory Right will want to stand up and be taken into account. Policies will have to be fought over issue by issue. This is the nightmare Cameron has seen and this is why he has kept Vince on. This is why Vince is working from home today. He is thinking very carefully whence his integrity beckons.