There’s something suspicious about the Daily Telegraph’s recent revelation that Vince Cable may be boasting to his constituents about his nuclear power within the Coalition. Aside from his seasoned status as a statesman, his survival in the wake of this duplicitous extraction is one that has caused much comment and confusion in the political press.
Not only that, but today we hear that other Liberal Democrat ministers are in droves being vocally critical of Tory policies and have boasted of their success in blocking certain aspects. Pensions Minister Steve Webb commented privately that he believed the ‘Coalition looks too lovey-dovey’. The crucial word here is ‘looks’ – the implication being that it may not actually be lovey-dovey, and that perhaps some aggressive divisions in the cosy cabinet should be cautiously encouraged.
And he is absolutely right. The Liberal Democrats have been polling appallingly low, Labour has introduced a reduced 1p membership fee to appeal to disenfranchised Lib Dems, and whether the Conservatives like it or not for the Government to be strong the Liberal Democrats must be strong also. The Tuition Fees riots were unfortunate for Governmental PR, but even worse for the student movement and the Liberal Democrat image of equal Coalition partner. Something drastic needed to be done.
The removal of ‘media’ from BIS to DCMS and a few negative stories questioning the Coalitions strength is a small price to pay for the tremendous electoral security and political kudos that the Liberal Democrats could start to recoup in their grassroots. In the week which saw one of the lowest levels of polled support for the Lib Dems, senior ministers outwardly coming out and saying to the press that they are rocking the boat in Government will surely please those activists that criticised the actions of the ‘Conservative’s Poodles’.
David Cameron has said: “Coalitions do have their difficulties. Coalitions do have tensions, even contradictions, that is a fact.” Is this ‘Telegraph sting’, a paper that traditional has supported Conservative governments, a tremendously well-thought out PR stunt to increase grassroot support in the Liberal Democrat party and thus the Government?
The haemorrhaging of Liberal Democrat members had to be stopped for the Coalition to stabilise – having a few natural disagreements publicly aired should do just that.
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Platform 10 » Leaked Cable – the PR stunt http://is.gd/jj7p4 <- first conspiracy theory?! @johnrentoul
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RT @derfelowen Platform 10 » Leaked Cable – the PR stunt http://is.gd/jj7p4 <- first conspiracy theory?
@iaindale Fancy a conspiracy theory about Cable-gate? http://is.gd/jj7p4 Thoughts welcome!
If only the Lib Dems were this crafty: http://is.gd/jj7p4
I think this theory about Telegraph complicity in boosting Lib-Dem ratings is rather fanciful, but I agree that it might be seen from the LD side as a boost – to use Cameron-speak, a “nudge” to wayward supporters.
I don’t think this would have been done by deliberate design, judging by Vince Cable’s reaction to the sting and (correct) criticism of the media. As Michael White has written in a stunningly good piece this week, Vince might be stupid and self-important but he’s not a fraud.
Moreover, the Telegraph’s only motive here is to injure the coalition. You are right – the newspaper is a supporter of the Conservative Party. However, the Barclay brothers are also supporters of a minority Conservative Government – that is their objective.