Sophy Ridge on Sunday Interview with Sir Vince Cable Liberal Democrat Leader

Sunday 4 November 2018

ANY QUOTES USED MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO SKY NEWS, SOPHY RIDGE ON SUNDAY

SOPHY RIDGE: Now reaction is coming in to the sad news this morning that the former Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, has died from cancer and one man who would have worked very closely with him in government is Sir Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, who joins us now. Thank you for being with us, what is your reaction to his death? You obviously knew Sir Jeremy.

SIR VINCE CABLE: Well it’s very, very sad. I mean he was just a superb public servant and I worked with him for five years in the Cabinet, he was brilliant at getting his head round very complicated problems and sort of brokering agreements between ministers who were implacably opposed and I think what was remarkable is that he worked for Lib Dem, Conservative, Labour ministers and none of us had the faintest idea what his politics were. I mean he was just the perfect civil servant and very, very good at his job and it is rather tragic that he has died at such a young age.

SR: Well quite, exactly and I think perhaps the thing that nobody could tell his politics is one of the highest compliments you could pay a civil servant. I am keen to talk to you about Brexit, this morning we had a letter from 50 business leaders demanding a second referendum. How likely do you think it is that a second referendum will happen? 50%, more or less?

SIR VINCE CABLE: I think probably a bit less than that but it is certainly one of the options that is available and it is the right option. I think we may well get into a position where Theresa May comes back with a deal, we’ve had a sketch this morning from a very reputable journalist giving us some indication about what might be involved. I think it’s rather unlikely that that will command a majority in the House of Commons, there is certainly no majority for no deal which would be a complete disaster and going back to the country and saying, well this is the best I can do, do you want that or do you want to stay in the European Union? I think that would be a fair and democratic way of dealing with it and there is a growing support I think, reflected in the march a few years ago [sic] and in the statement of these business leaders and others.

SR: I am interested if you think the likelihood of a second referendum happening is under 50%, what happens to the Lib Dems if the UK does leave the EU next year? Are you going to campaign to rejoin?

SIR VINCE CABLE: Well we would obviously have to take stock in where we then are. We would certainly want us to remain very close to the European Union because it is so much part of our life.

SR: Tempt you to rejoin even if it might mean …

SIR VINCE CABLE: Well under the current rules it would be very, very difficult because of the so-called Article 51 process which creates significant hurdles so no, we’ll obviously have to … If this happens, and we hope it won’t and we think there’s a good chance it won’t, but if this happens we will obviously need to sit down and think about the long-term future which does link us to the European Union, whether us joining or whatever is for us to think through but we are a European country and we are very closely linked through trade, through movement of people in many other ways and it will be foolish to unscramble all of that, very damaging to the country and nobody has yet come up with any kind of deal which is remotely comparable to the deal we already have.

SR: You have said before that when Brexit is resolved you’ll step down as leader so what timetable is that? Are you talking about next year?

SIR VINCE CABLE: Well what I’ve said is I’m trying to be professional about it and create an orderly succession and I’ve said that there are certain jobs for me to do and one of them is to see us through the Brexit process. We have got local government elections next year, there may be an early election, there are certain reforms I am going to put through the party which will take some months. When all of that’s completed I am ready to help the next generation move on but I’m not setting a time on it.

SR: It sounds from what you’re saying it could be next year, is that right?

SIR VINCE CABLE: It’s quite possible but I’m not being definite about time because I’m working to a specific task rather than setting an artificial deadline.

SR: Would you be tempted by a job at Facebook?

SIR VINCE CABLE: No! I have worked in a big multi-national company and I enjoyed doing it, it was very good experience but no, I’m not looking for a job. Actually I enjoy writing books and I enjoy my politics, I love being a constituency MP and these are things I’ll be continuing to do.

SR: Were you surprised when Sir Nick Clegg announced he was joining Facebook?

SIR VINCE CABLE: Not completely. He’s a young man by political standards, he’s very capable and he’s getting experience in a global business and why not?

SR: Now this week the Lib Dems announced you are cutting staff at your London HQ, it’s been a difficult period hasn’t it for the Liberal Democrats? Disappointing election results, you haven’t had the breakthrough in the polls that you may have hoped for with your opposition to Brexit, why did you cut those staff numbers and what does it say about the state of your party?

SIR VINCE CABLE: Well I’m very sorry for the people who will be affected by that but it isn’t a problem unique to us, I think all political parties are currently having a struggle with finance because we’ve been under a lot of financial pressure. We’ve had two general elections, two referendums and like any other organisations we have got to live within our means so I do feel for the people who are now worried about their position but it is something we have to do. As far as the future of the Lib Dems is concerned, I’m optimistic. We haven’t had a test of electoral opinion but where there has been at local level, every Thursday there is a local by-election, we do extremely well. We’re outperforming Labour and Conservatives at that level. Our opinion poll ratings as you say are not great and I’d like them to be much higher but they are several points on the position I inherited, our membership is very strong and we have a key leadership role in all this campaigning against Brexit so I’m very happy with where we’re heading.

SR: Sir Vince Cable, thank you very much.

SIR VINCE CABLE: Thank you.