James Forsyth James Forsyth

A Vince intervention that will please the Tories

Later today, Vince Cable will launch his traditional conference attack on the Tories. He’ll denounce them for their positions on Europe and immigration. But his pre-conference interview in The Guardian will have, for once, delighted the Tories. For in it, Cable rules out a deal with the SNP.

Now, this is a turn-around from Cable. Just last month, he said “We’re perfectly happy to work with the SNP. There’s no taboo on the SNP. ”

But Cable’s decision to rule it out on the grounds that ‘It’s virtually inconceivable that you can have a coalition with a party that is committed to breaking up your country’ will please the Tories as it will give them more ammunition in their attempt to force Ed Miliband to pre-emptively reject any kind of post-election deal with the SNP. Now, Labour complain that it is unfair that they are the one party being pushed to rule out deals with another party.

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