Caroline on Vince

First impressions?

He was very courteous, very pleasant, very polite.

What did you talk about?

Everything: voting reform, nuclear weapons, climate change, forming the coalition, tuition fees. But we also had some time to talk about how he unwinds, which is on his wife’s farm. That’s how I like to unwind as well – nature is important to me, with the dog and going out on the Downs, so we had common ground there.

What did you agree on?

Quite a lot around the green agenda. We agree that this place needs some serious reform in terms of enabling MPs to scrutinise legislation more effectively – the way government whips run the place and are therefore in control of the business agenda. We agreed we needed a change in the voting system, and on unwinding with nature.

What did you disagree on?

Most policy areas: tuition fees, nuclear weapons, austerity, getting more subsidies for North Sea oil. I didn’t believe him when he said he didn’t expect tuition fees to be paid back, because there are figures out there that show exactly the financial modelling that was done, which have not been met.

My overriding feeling about Vince is that he’s so reasonable and so plausible that he could make eating babies sound an entirely rational thing to do. It was hard to generate an awkward moment because of that. It’s quite a clever tactic, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that, for example, there is no justification for subsidising yet more fossil fuel extraction from the North Sea. And when it comes to tuition fees, we know it’s not a policy that is working – that it is saddling lots of young people with huge amounts of debt, and that it has undermined any confidence in the credibility of politicians. But if you were going to employ somebody to put quite a good gloss on it, he’d be your man.

Any awkward moments?

No, although when I asked whether he regretted the way the formation of the coalition was presented, with so much apparent delight and enthusiasm in the Rose Garden, he surprised me slightly by admitting that the tone of the presentation had been a mistake.

Why should people vote for Vince?

I was really struck when he talked about what brought him into politics, and his values around anti-racism and apartheid. So, clearly, those values still motivate him.

Why shouldn’t they vote for him?

Because his party’s record on upholding the values he says motivate him is pretty abysmal. When you think of the role they’ve played in propping up a government that has rolled out the most brutal austerity measures to some of the poorest people in society, it’s hard to square that with his values.

Would you introduce Vince to friends and colleagues?

I am not a tribal politician and I recognise the importance of working with people from all backgrounds, so, yes.

Describe Vince’s politics in three words:

Royal Mail sell-off.

Would you form a coalition?

No, the Green party has ruled out any formal coalitions.

If you could change one thing about the date, what would it be?

Probably minus his special adviser and on the farm. He talked very compellingly about his wife’s smallholding.

What do you think Vince made of you?

I was struck by the fact that he did listen. When, for example, I was explaining the business education tax proposal instead of tuition fees, or saying a bit more about green economic policy, he was receptive. So I hope he thought I had some constructive suggestions.

Marks out of 10?

Can I separate the man from the politics? For the man, I give him 9. For his politics, I give him 2.

Would you meet again?

Of course. Why not?







Vince on Caroline

‘I’d be very happy to introduce her to my friends: she’s a good conversationalist, bright and principled,’ says Cable. Photograph: Suki Dhanda/The Guardian

First impressions?

She’s delightfully charming, but clearly also a very determined, strong personality.

What did you talk about?

A mixture of the personal, politics, and philosophy. We both felt comfortable talking about the less politically divisive aspects, but we’re both experienced debaters and politicians, so we were happy to have an amicable agreement or disagreement on some of the policy stuff.

What did you agree on?

Quite a lot around the green agenda.

What did you disagree on?

Because of the way she has come up politically, Caroline’s approach is very much staking out political positions in an ideological way, and I don’t mean that negatively. Whereas my approach, having been in government, is: how do you get practical solutions to problems? So I think it was a difference in approach; I don’t think we have fundamentally different values.

Any awkward moments?

I don’t think so.

Why should people vote for Caroline?

Well, it’s up to the people of Brighton to decide on her merits or de-merits. Obviously, we’re competing with her party, so I’m not in a position to endorse her, but I’m sure the people of Brighton will have seen her at first hand and come to their own conclusions.

Why shouldn’t they vote for her?

I don’t want to be negative for exactly the same reasons. In terms of our conversation, there is a good deal of common ground and respect, I think. I don’t want to criticise her or what she stands for.

Would you introduce Caroline to friends and colleagues?

I’d be very happy to – she’s a good conversationalist and debates well. She’s a very bright person, with clear, strong principles and well thought-through positions.

Describe her politics in three words:

Radical, deeply committed.

Would you form a coalition?

As I understand it, the Green party has ruled out forming a coalition, but I would certainly be happy to work with her.

If you could change one thing about the date, what it would be?

Well, I think the context was a little artificial – inevitably so.

What do you think she made of you?

I really have no idea. Hopefully she found I was a good listener, and willing to engage with her ideas and views. There was quite a lot of common ground.

Marks out of 10?

I would say about 8.

Would you meet again?

I’d be very happy to.

• Interviews by Simon Hattenstone.