Liberal Democrats in turmoil over Nick Clegg leadership
LIBERAL Democrats were in ferment last night after Vince Cable was forced to condemn a leading party member over a leaked poll suggesting Nick Clegg will lose his seat in Parliament.
Business Secretary Mr Cable distanced himself from Lord Oakeshott, a critic of party leader Mr Clegg. The peer is suspected of ordering the poll.
The poll, leaked to a newspaper, suggested Mr Clegg could lose his Sheffield Hallam constituency at next year’s general election if he did not step down in an attempt to stem electoral meltdown.
Mr Clegg has come under acute pressure after dire local and European election results but yesterday he insisted he wanted to “finish the job”.
Commissioning and publishing polls without the consent of the member of Parliament...is utterly reprehensible.
Mr Cable said: “Lord Oakeshott’s actions are totally inexcusable and unacceptable.
“I have made it clear that he does not speak or act for me.
“Commissioning and publishing polls without the consent of the member of Parliament...is utterly reprehensible.
“There are undoubtedly raw feelings in the wake of poor local and European election results. We need to respond in a measured way. Public speculation about the leadership is an unwelcome distraction and as I made clear yesterday there is no leadership issue.”
Lib Dem sources questioned some elements of the methodology used by ICM, pointing out that results from last week’s elections indicated the Lib Dems would have won the Parliamentary seat by a clear margin.
A new poll yesterday showed almost two- thirds of undecided swing voters are moving away from voting Lib Dem.
The poll, by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft, puts Mr Clegg’s party in fourth place on just eight per cent.