Lib Dems' deputy leader is "Britain's most trusted politician" (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems' deputy leader is "Britain's most trusted politician"

September 17, 2009 10:29 AM

Vince Cable (left) with Wantage and Didcot spokesman Alan Armitage

A new Populus poll for The Times has revealed that Dr Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, is the most trusted of Britain's leading politicians - particularly among Conservative voters who trust him more than they do their own Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne.

Dr Cable, who is also deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, is widely sought out for his views on the economic state of Britain, having years ago correctly identified problems with unsustainable levels of personal debt, and unrealistically high property prices, as likely to lead to a severe economic crisis.

MP for Twickenham since 1997, he was formerly chief economist for Shell International, and also worked as Treasury Finance Officer for the Kenya Government for three years. After lecturing at Glasgow University in economics he worked as a first Secretary in the Diplomatic Service in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1974-1976). He was then Deputy Director of the Overseas Development Institute, including a period working for the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, John Smith MP, as a Special Advisor. From 1983 to 1990 Vince worked as Special Advisor on Economic Affairs for the Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir Sonny Ramphal.

He has also been head of the economics programme at Chatham House and since becoming an MP, has been appointed a fellow of Nuffield College Oxford, and at the London School of Economics.

He founded and until recently chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group on Victims of Crime. He is involved in several others groups formed to discuss issues such as Policing, Pulmonary Hypertension, Overseas Development, Warm Homes, Primary Care and Public Health and Insurance and Financial services. He has published several books and reports on international economics, trade and environmental issues.

Said Wantage and Didcot spokesman Alan Armitage: "Some say that Vince is the only man in Britain to have come well out the recession, and we are all very fortunate that he is a man of such integrity and insight. He is famous for his wicked sense of humour, and is also a very nice man, who listens carefully to other people. We would certainly benefit from having more people like Vince in the House of Commons - he has experience of the real world and of tragic personal loss as well as significant successes."