A Grandfather of the House?

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Vince Cable has today stated that he may abstain from a vote which he and his department are responsible for. He says he 'agrees in principle' that tuition fees need to go up, but will not be voting for it as it would be against his own party's policy...


What?! A coalition, as we keep being told, is about 'compromise' with regard to what was said before the election. Before the coalition. Or at least this is what the Liberal Democrats keep emphasising is the media... but I'm not going to write about that, others will.


St. Vince of Cable is looking more and more like a doddery old man. He was the man before the election wherever the economy was mentioned, but during the election the wheels started to fall off; and since the formation of the coalition has looked increasingly ill-at-ease with his political position. Trapped in a coalition that I don't think he really wants to be a part of...


If the Liberals do abstain, it'll be to try to regain some political ground, especially with the students... but at what cost? The minister not voting for a bill he'll be responsible for? I have had the thought previously that the reason Nick Clegg looks so down at the minute is, I believe, because he realises he has lost all political credibility as to where he says his principles lie. Should we be thinking the same about Vince Cable?