Vince Cable

“In my job I meet many outstanding, world class, British based companies. But we need more companies and more jobs in the companies we have.”

“And humility in politics means accepting that one party doesn't have all the answers; recognising that working in partnership is progress not treachery.”

“Where there is flagrant abuse of corporate entities we must and will seek to tackle it.”

“I know it sounds trite but I wanted to make a difference. Political debates with my father had been fraught because he was uncompromising and explosive but if he taught me one thing it was to air my views.”

“When I was a child we were sufficiently well off for me to be a picky eater and I still cannot eat vegetables cooked in the traditional British manner.”

“I've always been comfortable working with women and I've had two happy marriages. Draw what conclusions you like from that.”

“Small- and medium-sized businesses need access to a diverse range of finance options, including non-bank lending. These new forms of finance are still small in scale today but they should, over time, bring additional choice and greater competition to the lending market.”

“So I went into government with a clear mind about what the problems were, and what needed to be done.”

“I have managed to infuriate the bank bosses; acquire a fatwa from the revolutionary guards of the trades union movement; frighten the 'Daily Telegraph' with a progressive graduate payment; and upset very rich people who are trying to dodge British taxes. I must be doing something right.”