Billions of taxpayers' money has been wasted in bad deals. The London Underground modernisation, personally negotiated by one of Gordon Brown's team, was a disaster, as the National Audit Office has confirmed. Vince Cable auditbadbillion share on social
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 Britain's scientific competitiveness. Vince Cable areabasicbritain share on social
I'm now happily remarried to a good cook, which encourages me to be lazy. I like to think that I'm a new man, but perhaps I'm not. I offset it by doing the ironing, though. She has a small farm in the New Forest with a herd of cattle, so she serves up a steak and kidney pie made with her own beef. Vince Cable beefcattlecook share on social
Our workforce is very co-operative, very flexible, easy to work with and one of the big selling points. The idea that Britain is still back in the labour market of the '70s is utterly bizarre. Vince Cable 70sbackbig Change image and share on social
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 arabicattemptchance share on social
Where there is flagrant abuse of corporate entities we must and will seek to tackle it. Vince Cable abusecorporateentity Change image and share on social
Regulators are a backstop: they don't own banks. The governance at the top of our leading banks has been shown to be lamentably weak. No one at the top of Barclays will take responsibility for systemic abuse. Vince Cable abusebackstopbank share on social
I made friends with a boy who was a communist when I was 13 and that broadened my political views, but it also brought me into conflict with my father who was very Right-wing. Vince Cable boybringbroaden Change image and share on social
According to the papers, I'm miserable, alienated, and on the brink of resignation. But that's simply not where I am. Vince Cable alienatebrinkmiserable Change image and share on social
Well, as I said, you know the issue of Greek debt, they've grasped the principle of debt reduction. I think most people would argue that probably more needs to be done on that front, and they've just begun to take the first steps to accepting that there's going to have to be much closer economic integration in Europe. Vince Cable acceptarguebegin share on social