Wednesday 25th August 2010

Vince Cable's Dream Drive Shows Lib Dems Are 'PLU'

UK Business Secretary gets to grips with Aston's DBS and Jaguar's XKR

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Vince Cable at the wheel of an Aston Martin DBS yesterday

We can't honestly say we've seen Vince Cable knitting tofu or even sporting open-toe sandals, but here on PH we never thought we'd have the chance to say the Lib Dems are 'people like us'. (Eager consumers of fossil fuels, that is - we've not gone all party political on you!)

It's a lot more fun than a bicycle, eh?

So imagine our surprise to hear from both Aston Martin and Jaguar that one of the nation's most admired liberals spent much of yesterday getting his kicks from a range of Britain's finest supercars.

As part of an informal visit to Aston Martin, Vince met members of the executive team and enjoyed a brief glimpse of the company's Gaydon facility before he drove the company's flagship DBS model, we're told.

At Jaguar Land Rover, the official news release talks mainly about Vince's interest in the company's work on sustainable development in the shape of the Jaguar XJ-based Limo Green and the Range Rover Sport REHEV (Range Extended Hybrid Electric Vehicle), both of which are supported by state funding. Blah, blah, blah, etc...

It's all about the environment - we know!

However a picture is worth a thousand words, and the official shot from Jaguar shows Vince being ushered into the driving seat of an XKR Speed by Tata Motors MD Carl-Peter Foster, while sideways legend (and JLR chief engineer) Mike Cross waits in the wings to provide some tips, and also give the Business Secretary one of his (usually sideways) demo laps at the Gaydon test track.

"As I said on Desert Island Discs, driving an Aston Martin has always been a dream of mine," said the UK's Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills after what sounded like a top 'petrolhead' day out.

Wait 'til the Lib Dems hear... oh, wait...

"Fortunately for me Aston Martin took note and gave me the opportunity not only to test drive some of their cars but also to witness the high level of skills and engineering that go into making premium and niche cars in the UK."
Nicely put, Sir!

[SmartVenom]

Tough being a politician isn't it... I presume he can claim expenses for the trip as well.

[Steve126]

Before the election, the Lib Dems were saying they were in favour of road pricing.

You are seriously deluded if you think they are PLU.

[The Black Flash]

Steve126 said:

Before the election, the Lib Dems were saying they were in favour of road pricing.

You are seriously deluded if you think they are PLU.

Quite.

[Chris-R]

The Black Flash said:

Steve126 said:

Before the election, the Lib Dems were saying they were in favour of road pricing.

You are seriously deluded if you think they are PLU.

Quite.

Hence our amused interest in Vince's grand day out!

[dougc]

Didn't he used to run an old jag which he sold when the Lib Dems started getting all preachy about carbon and environments?

[Hungry Freak]

'Global warming blah blah hybrid...'

'Oooh, isn't a V12 fun!'

Bloody hypocrite.

[Perra]

Hungry Freak said:

'Global warming blah blah hybrid...'

'Oooh, isn't a V12 fun!'

Bloody hypocrite.

To be fair to him though he is putting money into British companies to help develop Hybrid drivetrains and therefore reduce carbon emissions, so he's not really a hypocrite is he?

I mean who wouldn't enjoy a lovely V12?

[B10]

Hungry Freak said:

'Global warming blah blah hybrid...'

'Oooh, isn't a V12 fun!'

Bloody hypocrite.

Grow up

[havoc]

Perra said:

Hungry Freak said:

'Global warming blah blah hybrid...'

'Oooh, isn't a V12 fun!'

Bloody hypocrite.

...he is putting OUR money into British companies to help develop Hybrid drivetrains and therefore reduce carbon emissions...whilst saying he's always dreamed of HIM owning a V12 'gas guzzling' (sic) sports car

EFA. Sounds pretty hypocritical in my book.

[annodomini2]

12 weeks later....

Major british car manfuacturers go bankrupt following 4000% fuel tax rise.

[otolith]

This would be the same Lib Dems who wanted road tax for cars like that to be increased to £2000 per annum? And who in doing so put in the political foundations which let Labour ramp it up to £435 per annum?

Edited by otolith on Wednesday 25th August 13:21

[ManOpener]

Might as well all stop winging about the old Lib Dem policies. They've lost their entire grass-roots voter base by cosying up with the Tories, and got very little in return thankfully. The more power they get, the more like the Conservatives they become. Which is good news regardless of who you support. Good on 'em I say.

I'm more worried about what Labour propose to do now all the Safety Camera Partnerships have been effectively scrapped.

[ChrisSquire]

Re: 'Didn't he used to run an old jag which he sold when the Lib Dems started getting all preachy about carbon and environments?'

No that was our former leader Ming Campbell.

I will forward this news story to Vince who will enjoy the jokes, no doubt.

[SleeperCell]

otolith said:

This would be the same Lib Dems who wanted road tax for cars like that to be increased to £2000 per annum? And who in doing so put in the political foundations which let Labour ramp it up to £435 per annum?

To be fair they probably never actually expected to get into a position of any power and these photos will be no doubt be dredged up repeatedly for the rest of his career whenever he makes environmental noises by all sorts of wags and comedians. They only sent Cable as noone really cares about him and his career is winding down, if it were Cameron or Clegg or anyone else with career aspirations the press would be all over it, spinning it as toffs being toffs if Conservative or else the Lib Dems turning into toffs as a result of their alliance, all the comedy programs would have a field day with all the potential jokes such situations present. Those jokes can be pretty persistent as well, just ask 'two jags' Prescott .

[amare32]

That prick will probably 'buy' one on expenses - age of austerity my arse.

[K-Cee]

A classic case of ( Don,t do as I do.., Do as I say )

[Perra]

havoc said:

Perra said:

Hungry Freak said:

'Global warming blah blah hybrid...'

'Oooh, isn't a V12 fun!'

Bloody hypocrite.

...he is putting OUR money into British companies to help develop Hybrid drivetrains and therefore reduce carbon emissions...whilst saying he's always dreamed of HIM owning a V12 'gas guzzling' (sic) sports car

EFA. Sounds pretty hypocritical in my book.

OI! Don't go editing my posts for accuracy :P

If it's our money a proportion would be HIS money too. So I say not hypocritical. :P

So the man can't dream anymore?

Personally I want to see more electric cars on the road (Not a fkin G Wizz), actually nice plug in cars that just look like any other car. If someone asked if I wanted to drive a V12 Jag or Aston, there is absolutely no way I'm going to say no and I'm glad he didn't I'm sure he had loads of fun.

[alfamonk]

Can someone explain to me why believing in road-pricing as a policy means you can't appreciate an Aston-Martin?

[dougc]

ChrisSquire said:

Re: 'Didn't he used to run an old jag which he sold when the Lib Dems started getting all preachy about carbon and environments?'

No that was our former leader Ming Campbell.

I will forward this news story to Vince who will enjoy the jokes, no doubt.

Good show - I knew it was someone, just couldn't remember who.

p.s. Which one are you?

Edited by dougc on Wednesday 25th August 14:45

[Parrot of Doom]

Never had a problem with road pricing personally, its the tracking element that disturbs me.

Most of my motoring is done on the motorway network, I rarely drive into towns and cities during rush hour.