Party Lines: December 21st

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

After Vince Cable’s comments on Rupert Murdoch were revealed by the BBC, John Denham said that there would be grave doubts about Cable’s integrity and judgment:

“These comments call into question Vince Cable’s capacity to exercise properly his responsibilities in this quasi-judicial process. He must immediately step aside from any involvement with the decision on News Corp’s bid to take total control of BSkyB.”

“In light of the grave doubts that will inevitably be raised about Vince Cable’s integrity and judgment it is very difficult to see how David Cameron and Nick Clegg can continue to have confidence in him as Business Secretary.”

“Labour called on Vince Cable to intervene in this case and refer it to Ofcom so that that both sides of the argument could be scrutinised. But every company – big or small – that comes up in front of the competition authorities has a right to know that their case will be heard dispassionately and judged on its merits. Vince Cable, with these extraordinary remarks, has clearly shown he is unable to do that.”

Speaking to BBC News, Ed Miliband said he would have sacked Vince Cable over his “declaring war” on Murdoch comments:

“Vince Cable should have gone. Having apparently breached the ministerial code and having said what he said he shouldn’t be remaining in office and I fear that David Cameron’s made this decision not because it’s good for the country but because he’s worried about the impact on his coalition of Vince Cable going.”

“That’s not the way decisions about who’s in and out of government should be made.”

“David Cameron’s made the wrong judgment and he’s kept Vince Cable on not because of the national interest but because his Conservatives led government needs the prop that Vince Cable provides.”

Party Lines will be taking a break over the holiday period. We’ll be back on January 4th.