CONFERENCE SPECIAL
CABLE MISSES LEAKED ‘LINES TO TAKE’ MEMO
STORY OF THE DAY
WE HEAR THAT… Following yesterday‟s controversy, Vince Cable has claimed he has no idea where “this nonsense about my non-appearing” came from. If true, he may want to check in with his own team, who reportedly briefed the media Vince would miss the vote the night before. Party Chair Tim Farron went down a storm at an event he didn‟t even attend last night. Sky News‟ reception provided „Lib Dem‟ cakes, with Farron cakes in particular demand. By contrast, Julian Huppert cakes couldn‟t be given away. SpAds may have mastered the corridors of Westminster, but Glasgow seems to be a bridge too far for them. Several have resorted to asking for directions from G4S staff.
The Vince Cable Show continues in Glasgow today after the Business Secretary told a fringe meeting that the break-up of the Coalition before election day is “certainly possible”. He also said there were „red lines‟ that could force him to leave the Government, coyly adding that unlike Obama he wouldn‟t reveal what they were. After a day of headlines on his „will he, won‟t he?‟ approach to yesterday‟s debate, senior Lib Dems were again left to clear up a Vince-shaped mess this morning, with Danny Alexander slapping down his colleague by claiming Cable “didn't say that the Coalition would split”. Lib Dem activists love Vince for his willingness to flout the party line, and his actions certainly allow the Left of the party to blow off the steam caused by the pressure of coalition. But senior Lib Dems will be much more concerned by another day of Conference overshadowed by Cable, and may even start hoping for a red line issue to force him out of Government.
TODAY’S KEY EVENT One of the Coalition‟s chief architects, Danny Alexander, will take the conference platform this afternoon. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has already made strides to bash rumours he is too close to his Coalition partners, claiming he is instead helping to protect the nation against „nutty‟ Tories. Alexander is expected to trail plans for further reform to personal and property taxation levels.
Daily Bulletin 2013
TWEET OF THE DAY @timfarron Tim Laughton [sic] should apologise in person for his utterly unacceptable remarks about Sarah Teather. Twitter is not enough. @ldconf
A GOOD DAY FOR...
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A BAD DAY FOR…
Nick Clegg. The Deputy PM has been widely perceived to have performed well in front of the media and has won numerous votes on the economy, backing new nuclear, and against reinstating the 50p tax bracket. Clegg‟s message that the Lib Dems are prepared to take the tough decisions in Government is starting to resonate, and compared to the other main party, leaders he‟s on firmer ground.
Lib Dem HQ, who were the butt of countless jokes after inadvertently sending out to the media their confidential „lines to take‟ briefing for MPs. Just in case MPs forget, the top line is that “Conference sees the party in a confident mood”. Sadly Jeremy Browne only managed to hit three out of the five points during yesterday‟s Daily Politics interview. Better luck next time, Jeremy…
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