Vince Cable Campaigns In Uppermill

Vince Cable and Elwyn Watkins on Uppermill High Street today.

Business Secretary Vince Cable was in Uppermill this afternoon, campaigning with Liberal Democrat by-election candidate Elwyn Watkins. In an interview with Saddleworth News, Dr Cable said he was “feeling pretty good” about the outcome.

Dr Cable and Mr Watkins popped in to several of the small shops on the village High Street. They heard concerns including the reluctance of banks to lend to businesses, the threat posed by the new Tesco at Greenfield, and the lack of parking in the village.

On banking, Dr Cable said: “I met the heads of the leading five banks the day before we broke up for Christmas, and we want to get them completely committed to expanding their lending to sound British companies. After all, they’ve been bailed out by the taxpayer, and they have a responsibility for the real British economy.”

He pointed to tomorrow’s introduction of the bank levy, which will force large banks to pay 0.04% of their balance sheets in tax, as well as plans to tackle tax evasion by banks, adding: “We’re making serious progress in dealing with some of the big problems that the collapsed banking system has presented to us.”

Vince Cable and Elwyn Watkins chat to a passer-by.

When asked about Tesco, Dr Cable admitted politicians could only play a “limited” role on such matters because of existing planning rules. But he continued: “The coalition government is committed to giving local communities much more say over local planning decisions… where there are local planning decisions we’d like to have much more genuine local choice.”

As Dr Cable and Mr Watkins walked down the High Street, they were heckled by a passer-by about the government’s decision to increase tuition fees, a policy which Dr Cable had responsibility for.

He said today: “The policy will not affect people from low-income families, they are protected. And if they have low earnings when they become graduates they don’t pay. It’s very much related to ability to pay.”

But Dr Cable admitted: “I don’t doubt that it’s controversial and arouses strong feelings. But unfortunately, given the enormous pressures on public finance, the need to make cuts, tough decision are going to have to be made affecting universities as with other bits of the economy.”

Before speaking to Saddleworth News, Mr Watkins and Dr Cable were interviewed by the Telegraph's Andrew Gilligan.

The Liberal Democrats have done well in the Saddleworth in the past, and currently all nine borough councillors are members of the party. Dr Cable said he felt there were three main reasons why Lib Dem supporters should stay loyal in the by-election.

He pointed to the circumstances of the last general election, the false statements made by Phil Woolas and Mr Watkins’ successful legal challenge, saying: “He stuck at it, won that battle, most people didn’t expect him to but he has done, and I think people will recognise that and acknowledge it.”

Dr Cable also praised the record of Oldham Council, which is run by a Lib Dem/Conservative coalition: “(It’s a) good local council, very high reputation, made difficult decisions as we’re having to do nationally… they’re doing all kinds of innovative things to help local residents, local businesses.”

Finally, Dr Cable said: “Local people are much more understanding than I think the media are giving them credit for in terms of the difficult decisions we’re having to make on cuts. So I’m feeling pretty good about it and I know Elwyn’s feeling pretty good about it.”

Vince Cable speaks to Saddleworth News editor Richard Jones. (picture: Stuart Coleman Photography)

I interviewed Dr Cable at the A Month of Sundaes ice cream and coffee shop on Uppermill High Street. You can listen to our conversation in full here.

Also today, I did an in-depth interview with Labour’s candidate Debbie Abrahams. Check Saddleworth News tomorrow to read and listen to that.

There are ten candidates in all. An interview with Pirate Party UK candidate Loz Kaye is here, you can hear from Stephen Morris of the English Democrats here, UKIP candidate Paul Nuttall here, and the interview with Mr Watkins is here.

Saddleworth News will be speaking to the other candidates soon. They are, in alphabetical order, the BNP’s Derek Adams, Kashif Ali of the Conservatives, Green candidate Peter Allen, David Bishop of the Bus Pass Elvis Party and Nick “The Flying Brick” Delves from the Monster Raving Loony Party.

Polling day is 13 January. Plenty of other well-known political figures have already been campaigning in our area. An interview with the Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is here, one with Labour leader Ed Miliband is here, and you can hear from Conservative Chairman Baroness Warsi here.

To read full coverage of the by-election so far from Saddleworth News, click here.

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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