Yesterday saw the launch of Vince Cable’s and the Lib Dems’ plans for tackling the fiscal crisis, widely praised by commentators (though perhaps less so in Wales).
Today it’s not just the Guardian which is singing Vince’s praises, the Economist’s Bagehot is also writing In praise of Vince:
The real winner of today’s fiscal tussle, however, was Vince Cable. He published a pamphlet that I doubt will be widely read, but which offers some specific and credible ideas for restraining public spending. It isn’t all Liberal Democratic policy yet, but much of it is likely to be. Neither Mr Brown, in his belated admission of reality, nor Mr Osborne, with his vague triumphalism, were as sensible as Saint Vince.
And, as if all that isn’t enough, today also saw the publication by The Times of a Populus poll showing Vince to be the most trusted British politician:
Populus asked voters to rate politicians on a scale of nought to 100, from totally mistrust to trust absolutely. There are no Labour figures in the top six. … Mr Cable, at 52.8, is not only rated higher by Lib Dem voters than Nick Clegg, his own party leader, but he is trusted more by Tories than by Lib Dem supporters. … Among Tories he is ahead of all the party’s leading figures apart from David Cameron.
Dr Cable is more trusted among Tories than not only Mr Osborne but also William Hague (just), Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, and Michael Gove. … Mr Cameron is second among all voters, at 50 … Next come Mr Hague and Mr Clegg.
Lib Dem bloggers Stephen Glenn and Sara Bedford have already posted their takes on the poll’s findings.
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3 Comments
The one Labour “leader” who has more exposure than just about anyone else in the Cabinet – Mandelson – and considerably more exposure than Nick Clegg and Vince Cable combined, scored the worst ratings …and came bottom of the poll.
The most interesting thing is the almost total lack of trust in Conservative leaders outwith Conservative voters.
It’s so easy when you don’t have a record to defend or the prospect of ever being in government.