Quotes by

Vince Cable

I think what is happening is I think first of all there is confidence in the U.K. economy. Were in a German rather than a Greek position in international financial markets, which is very positive and keeps our debt service costs down, and were also beginning to see real evidence of rebalancing. – Vince Cable

And humility in politics means accepting that one party doesnt have all the answers recognising that working in partnership is progress not treachery. – Vince Cable

My college, Fitzwilliam, was pretty good but unfashionable and I lived in digs so I was not part of the cloistered old college environment, which frankly was a bit intimidating. But I worked hard and settled in by exploring politics and girls. – Vince Cable

I clearly believe a lot more than some of my coalition colleagues – Tories – in redistribution and using the tax system for that purpose. I also believe in the government having an active role in the economy, which is having an industrial strategy. Im not a believer in laissez-faire. – Vince Cable

You cant win with some people. If youre not in government, youre criticised for being not serious. If you are in government, youre criticised for wanting power. Thats the Labour partys line of attack, and its a bit ridiculous. – Vince Cable

When my job was attempting to predict future economic developments for the Shell oil company, I was frequently reminded of an Arabic saying: Those who claim to foresee the future are lying, even if by chance they are later proved right. – Vince Cable

The food in the House of Commons is fairly good. The cafe in Portcullis House is really very high quality, and you also have a choice of eating in the more traditional restaurants, the Churchill Room or the Members Dining Room. I dont often eat in them, though, as Im usually on the run. – Vince Cable

I fear that the rising personal bankruptcies and repossessions are the first signs of bigger problems to come and personal debt – Gordon Browns legacy to millions of Britains families – will hang like a millstone around the neck of the British people for years to come. – Vince Cable

Now the main areas of higher education that still enjoy considerable financial support from government are subjects like engineering and science and the research ringfence which is the basic minimum to protect Britains scientific competitiveness. – Vince Cable

Small- and medium-sized businesses need access to a diverse range of finance options, including non-bank lending. These new forms of finance are still small in scale today but they should, over time, bring additional choice and greater competition to the lending market. – Vince Cable

My time at Shell was a most valuable experience because it taught me to look at the world in a long-term way. Shell takes a 20-year view on events and plans for different scenarios. It makes you see the world as a kind of large matrix. – Vince Cable

For wide swaths of training and education there are valuable spillovers which mean that the private sector needs support from the government. That is why I have been so determined to protect and grow apprenticeships and put higher education on a sustainable footing. – Vince Cable