Casting the net – A Star is born


by Aaron Murin-Heath    
12:20 pm - November 29th 2007

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Parliament chuckles
Liberal Democrats watching yesterday’s PMQs might have wondered if they’ve missed out on the best man for the vacancy of Party Leader (bar the sainted Charles Kennedy, naturally). Vince Cable proved to be a Parliamentary sketch writer’s wet-dream [Simon Hoggart, Guardian] as he teased the embattled Gordon Brown. While the candidates for the Party Leadership continue to bicker like a couple of chumps on chat show sofas, Cable delighted the House with a rib-tickler of the highest order: -

“The house has noticed the prime minister’s remarkable transformation in the past few weeks – from Stalin to Mr Bean.“

Oh how the house roared. Notes were waived, and feet were stamped. Brown looked, and must have felt, like he’d just been punched in the stomach. The ‘safe pair of hands™’, who had steered Britain’s economy into the record books with a decade of continuous growth, now looked out of his depth, humiliated by the Parliamentary equivalent of a supply-teacher. And, of course, the Lib Dem bloggers loved it!

Hot Ginger & Dynamite agrees that Cable has done a tremendous job, calling him “an outrageously good Acting Leader and Shadow Chancellor.” HG&D is also right about Cable’s ability to pick his punches, choosing sensitive issues (such as the Saudi Royal visit) to put clear blue water between the Lib Dems and the other main parties. Caron’s Musings declared “Vince Cable plays a blinder”, and adds that the new leader must reward Cable with a “high profile” position in the new set-up. Hmmm. Not sure about that. Surely you hide the competent ones and promote the muppets? Makes you look good. Indeed, Mike Smithson worries if Cable will “over-shadow whoever wins?” Falkirk-based blog Love and Garbage wants to keep Vinny for good. And Nich Starling observes that even the BBC is now taking notice of the Lib Dems. Crikey.

In these days of ubiquitous Photoshopping, it was only a matter of hours before Brown’s mug would be superimposed on various Mr. Bean posters. And indeed, the blogosphere was soon awash with images of Brown mashed with Rowan Atkinson’s comedic invention. An honourable mention should go to Liberal Democrat Voice which remade the Mr.Bean’s Holiday film poster (ConHome has some too). Childish, perhaps, but great fun nonetheless. While still over at LibDem Voice (seamless, eh?), Stephen Tall has a copy of the Hansard transcript of Cable’s exchange with the PM.

Meral’s Musings agreed that Cable’s quip had “raised the bar.” Quite right. Great stuff. But Vince Cable’s good day didn’t end there, as Charlotte Gore points out.

Elsewhere…
Remembering the ability in disability – Northern Rock and Down’s Syndrome… Yes, you did read that right…
Philobiblon – Medieval Africa – the great kingdoms [Book Review]
Obsolete – Mendelsohn becomes Mandelson
The Nether-World – Letting The Iraqi Employees Die
Blood & Treasure – cargo and its discontents
Dave’s Part – Annapolis: Oslo for slow learners
Three Score Years And Ten – The Undiplomatic Diplomat

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About the author
Aaron Murin-Heath is an occasional contributor. He is a writer based in Newark-on-Trent and Tallinn, Estonia. He is both socially and economically liberal. Aaron blogs at tygerland.net.
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Reader comments


1. Lee Griffin

It was truly an enjoyable PMQ’s to watch yesterday, unfortunately (as a Cornish lad) I was disgusted with the PM’s skipping over the subject of the act of buying second homes in my home county forcing local people to wonder if they’ll ever get on the housing ladder.

It makes me wonder if the PM even knows about the economy in our corner of the country, given that I have friends earning over the average Cornish wage that are struggling to find places to RENT in their hometown and are still living with their parents.

It seems as though Labour does therefore agree somewhat with Tory policies on “traditional families” when it comes to Cornwall given that you have no chance of getting an apartment of your own unless you’re a couple both earning a wage.

And of course it’s all quite aside from the apparent disregard for the issue of the “wealthy” of this country buying up homes in areas such as Cornwall, devastating local communities and economies, causing the close down of local schools and creating a tide of resentment for “middle england” and those from the south east.

I do however have to ask how Gordon Browns’ answer that the building of the extra £3m homes (being built mainly in the south east I might add) is going to solve this problem of unaffordable accomodation in the holiday destinations of the south west?!

2. Aaron Heath

Lee,

It’s a forgotten issue, and a minefield for politicians. You should write an article.

3. Lee Griffin

I intend to after a bit more research, but you’re right for sure about it being a minefield. For me the occurance in PMQ’s just solidly rounded off what was a fairly devastating day for the prime minister.

Very good to see the BBC really getting behind Vince Cables input too, it’s also made it into the news reports on Radio 1 today which is a good sign for just how “hip” Vince is being, heh ;)

4. MixTogether

Vince Cable is clearly a man of taste…

5. Aaron Heath

Vince Cable is clearly a man of taste…

Seconded.

6. Aaron Heath

What with Vinny etc. I’m wondering: are the Lib Dems better equipped than we think?

7. Jill, London

The person who first likened Gordon Brown to Mr Bean is Leo McKinstry in an interesting piece of analysis in the Daily Express on 19 November. This is the link:

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/25661/PM-a-cross-between-Mr-Bean-and-Nixon-


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  1. Pickled Politics » Vincemania, and the reality?

    [...] Cable’s performance as acting leader of the Lib Dems has impressed many observers, as Aaron Heath chronicles. His quip about Gordon Brown morphing from Stalin to Mr. Bean was merely the icing on the cake. The [...]





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