Vince Cable, once considered the only capable person in the Liberal Democrats, has put himself in a huge pile of shit.
Speaking to two Telegraph reporters posing as Lib Dem constituents they obtained from Cable a series of comments meant for their ears only.
Top of the list was his bravado statement that if he quitted as a Minister he would bring the Government down. He regards this as his 'nuclear option'. After Cable had discovered he had been taken in by the Telegraph he revised his view and declared he had no intention of quitting.
'I don't say the same things to my assumed constituents as I do to everyone else' he explained. When asked if this had been his approach over his pledge not to raise student fees he shouted angrily : 'You know nothing of what I have been through over this issue. I am sick and tired of it. We move on to fresh challenges.'
At which he did move on and out of the room.
David Cameron is left with a dilemma, whether to take this type of conduct from a Minister or cut Cable down to size by sacking him - thereby risking 'the nuclear option' of bringing the Government down.
Betting on an election next year has reached fever pitch with Bookies reducing the odds on an election next year to evens.
Betting on a LibDem wipe out has also been strong. There has been a huge bet on the LibDems winning just one seat - Vince Cable's.
