Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable has delivered a typically withering-yet-courteous assessment of Gordon Brown’s determination to assemble a ‘government of all the talents’.
Speaking at a Fabian Society fringe meeting at the Labour party conference in Bournemouth, he’s quoted by the BBC saying:
“I am concerned about what I would regard as big tentism – this attempt to get everybody into the same fold. I think it is an attempt to create – in the nicest possible way – a one-party state.”
He likened Mr Brown to Jomo Kenyatta, former president of Kenya, for whom he once worked and who engaged in big tent politics.
“It was about sucking out of opposition parties any potential source of dissent – giving them a role; giving them a state regardless of colour or tribe or ideology,” he said.
“It was superficially very attractive but ultimately it is dangerous because it destroys constructive opposition and we are very concerned about it for that reason.”
Follow @libdemvoice.org on Bluesky
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our feed
Sign-up for our daily email digest
Lib Dem policy is light on politics not on outside expertise
Discovery
Starmer makes the ultimate betrayal
Tŷ Newydd National Writing Centre's Open Day - 27 September 2026
Rising social care costs for families underlines the urgency of reform and investment
sean
Matt Wardman
Tristan Ward
5 Comments
It seems to me that this rhetoric should be directed to the many senior liberal democrats who accepted positions in Gordon Brown’s ‘big tent’.
Yup, Vince puts his finger on it well.
Interesting to see the BBC report Angela Eagle saying Labour have to learn from us on tax. Are we winning the argument here?
I hardly think Gordon Brown’s actually created a big tent, it seems more like spin to win over tories than anything substantial. In response to the first comment one or two liberal Peers doing work in minor government departments is hardly the forming of a big tent.
The test for Gordan’s tent, or anyone else’s, is whether they can agree with the policies that Labour are putting into effect. I wonder if Labour can deliver on reducing carbon emmissions with Digby Jones keen to persue the business interest agenda?
I do not object to Lib Dems getting involved with the Labour government assuming that they are pushing our agenda. If Brown decides to cross swords with them, they could resign and make him look very silly, so I think that Shirley Williams in particular will have some clout.