Cable calls for "progressive majority" to keep Tories out of power

Tim Montgomerie

Earlier this week Matthew Barrett compiled a list of Vince Cable's long list of attempts to undermine the Coalition. They are now arriving every 72 hours. No senior Tory has attacked Mr Cable for his acts of disloyalty but the tantrums continue. When he fails to get a response this small man escalates his rhetoric, constantly daring Cameron to act against him.

The Business Secretary ups the rhetoric again tomorrow - shooting at Cameron on two fronts:

• He calls for Labour, Greens and Liberal Democrats to come together to win the AV referendum so that they can then come together and exclude the Conservatives from power: "It's time for the progressive majority in the country to rise above this narrow tribalism and support this reform because we need to make sure the progressive majority wins elections in this century and not the Conservatives as they did, by the back door, for two-thirds of the last century."
• He then calls for Mr Cameron to disown the "no" campaign for its "brutal personal attack on Clegg". The brutal personal attack is this; "Nick Clegg is unpopular because he broke his promises: job cuts, VAT increase, tuition fees, public spending cuts. That's why he's pushing for AV to save his party." Mr Cable comments: "He [Cameron] may not directly control what his supporters are up to. But he must make it clear that he doesn't condone and will endeavour to stop personal attacks on his deputy for loyally supporting coalition policy. To stand by and let this happen is dangerous and puts considerable strain on the coalition. I haven't really reacted to this spat. But that leaflet was absolutely dreadful. It does take it on to a different level."

It is one thing to have a coalition of two parties where each party wants to advance its own interests. It is an entirely different thing to see a senior member of one those parties plotting to build a coalition that excludes the other.

THIS IS THE PAGE FROM THE NO2AV'S LATEST EIGHT PAGE MAILING THAT HAS ALARMED CABLE: