Coalition discomfort deepens
By politics.co.uk staff
Vince Cable conceded working with the Conservatives was ‘difficult’ as support for the coalition from its backbenchers continued to wane.
David Cameron’s failed leadership rival David Davis caused controversy after the Financial Times newspaper reported he had been overheard describing the Tory-Lib Dem tie-up as a “Brokeback coalition”.
He was referring to the Oscar-winning film Brokeback Mountain, which centres on the unusually close relationship which develops between two homosexual cowboys.
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg told the BBC yesterday that the “colourful phrase” was not the best way of describing the coalition.
He characterised it as “two separate parties led by two separate leaders – myself and David Cameron – recognising that this country is facing some very difficult short-term challenges”.
But he was undermined by business secretary Dr Cable, who resigned the party’s deputy leadership to allow the coalition to be placed under more pressure by backbenchers.
He said that none of the party pretended it was not difficult working with the Tories.
“Orientating myself into co-operation has required effort and concentration,” he told the Sunday Times newspaper.
Lib Dem MP Tim Farron, who lost to Simon Hughes in the recent race to succeed Dr Cable as deputy leader, told the BBC on Friday that David Cameron’s party were “toxic”.
