Cable: We can beat Labour in North
Sep 13 2008 by Liz Hands, The Journal
LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg must improve his performance to win seats in Labour’s North East heartlands, according to his deputy Vince Cable.
Mr Cable said his leader was doing well but had to “project” himself and become better known in comments that come as the Lib Dem autumn conference in Bournemouth gets under way.
But the Lib Dems were in a “stronger position” having dumped previous leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who struggled in the spotlight, according to the party’s deputy leader.
Mr Cable insisted the Lib Dems were in pole position to beat Labour in the North and take on Tories in the south, where the party will be vulnerable to a David Cameron onslaught.
And he said his party’s “distinctive” tax policies would attract voters by creating a redistributive system – where the wealthy pay more – and save £20bn in public spending to help fund tax cuts.
“We are in a stronger position than we were a year ago. The national polls had us on about 15%. We had a leadership problem. Ming was very honourable in many ways, but it was clear the position was not sensible in many ways,” said Mr Cable, in an interview with The Journal.
He added: “The situation this year is quite different. We have a new leader, who is very good but he is getting known and part of the conference will be making sure he is known much more widely. He is doing well in Parliament and the leadership of the party. But he needs to project himself and we need to help him.”
The Lib Dem deputy leader claimed support for Labour was in “total collapse” and expressed optimism about a Parliamentary breakthrough in the North East. Success in local government – such as running Newcastle council – and the absence of Tories in swathes of the region helped the Lib Dems chances, said Mr Cable.
He added: “Taking those facts combined, we may do much better in a general election in those Labour-held seats than we would otherwise have.”
But he admitted the Lib Dems faced a battle with the Tories in other parts of the country, such as the South West, but promised to fight hard to keep seats.
A major goal now is to highlight his party’s “distinctive” economic message as well as reinforce its “seriousness and competence” on the issues, said Mr Cable.
The Lib Dem Treasury spokesman added he was proved right on Northern Rock with his call to nationalise the bank made long before the Government took that action.
On taxation, he called for a “radically” fair system in which low and middle income earners paid less and the wealthy stumped up more money.
Mr Cable also revealed he wants to save £20bn in public spending on major projects to put cash into priority areas with any surplus helping fund tax cuts – although details are yet to be finalised.
We are in a stronger position than we were a year ago. The national polls had us on about 15%
