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| Business Secretary Vince Cable (right) with Leader of Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg |
Vince Cable should be stripped of his role as the Liberal Democrats’ voice on economic affairs over his links to a plot to undermine Nick Clegg, colleagues have said.
Senior Lib Dems are pushing Mr Clegg to sideline Mr Cable in the party’s general election campaign next year, giving control of economic policy to loyal younger ministers.
That could mean Mr Cable is denied a role in any pre-election television debates or a major position in any new coalition government the Lib Dems might join next year.
Mr Cable, the Business Secretary, is facing questions about his loyalty this week after it emerged that Lord Oakeshott, a friend and political ally, had secretly commissioned opinion polls that suggested the Lib Dems would win more votes if they ditched Mr Clegg.
Lord Oakeshott has said he told Mr Cable about some of his polling several weeks ago. Some Lib Dems say Mr Cable failed to stop “treacherous” moves to remove Mr Clegg and take his job. » | James Kirkup, and Georgia Graham | Thursday, May 29, 2014
