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Nick Clegg and Vince Cable facing Lib Dem questions Vince Cable denies disloyalty over Oakeshott polls
(35 minutes later)
Nick Clegg and Vince Cable are each facing questions over the future leadership of the Liberal Democrats. Vince Cable has denied acting disloyally after his closes ally attempted to get Nick Clegg sacked as Liberal Democrat leader.
Mr Cable's friend Lord Oakeshott quit after it emerged he had commissioned polls suggesting the party would do better without Mr Clegg as leader. Lord Oakeshott commissioned polls suggesting the party would do better without Mr Clegg at the helm.
The deputy prime minister told the BBC he spoke to Mr Cable yesterday and been told he had not known about the polls. Mr Cable admits knowing about some of the polling, but denied knowing about ones in Mr Clegg's own constituency.
Mr Clegg added that his party would not "buckle" under pressure and leave the coalition. He denied wanting Mr Clegg's job before the next election telling BBC News: "I am supporting the party leader."
Parting blows The business secretary, who is on a trade mission in China, said he wants the "in-fighting" in the party to end, saying: "There is no leadership issue. We have a united team."
In his resignation statement, Lord Oakeshott delivered two parting blows. In his resignation statement on Wednesday, Lord Oakeshott delivered two parting blows.
He said the party was "heading for disaster" under Mr Clegg - and he claimed he had shown his friend and ally Mr Cable the damaging polls some weeks ago.He said the party was "heading for disaster" under Mr Clegg - and he claimed he had shown his friend and ally Mr Cable the damaging polls some weeks ago.
Parting blows
The publicity surrounding the opinion polls, carried out in April and early May, has inflicted further damage on the Lib Dem leader after his party's poor showing in last week's European and local elections.The publicity surrounding the opinion polls, carried out in April and early May, has inflicted further damage on the Lib Dem leader after his party's poor showing in last week's European and local elections.
One of the polls was carried out in Sheffield Hallam, Mr Clegg's constituency.One of the polls was carried out in Sheffield Hallam, Mr Clegg's constituency.
Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, Mr Clegg said of Mr Cable: "He clearly didn't know at all about a poll being conducted in Sheffield."Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, Mr Clegg said of Mr Cable: "He clearly didn't know at all about a poll being conducted in Sheffield."
He added that Mr Cable had been "very critical" about the poll having taken place.He added that Mr Cable had been "very critical" about the poll having taken place.
Mr Clegg admitted the party had lost support since joining the coalition in 2010, but that to leave now - as he said Lord Oakeshott desired - "would harm the Liberal Democrats for a generation".Mr Clegg admitted the party had lost support since joining the coalition in 2010, but that to leave now - as he said Lord Oakeshott desired - "would harm the Liberal Democrats for a generation".
He added: "Clearly, we had some really, really bad election results last week. That, of course, quite rightly means there's a lot of questions and soul searching about what we do as a party over the next year."He added: "Clearly, we had some really, really bad election results last week. That, of course, quite rightly means there's a lot of questions and soul searching about what we do as a party over the next year."
Although Mr Cable admitted he had discussed some polls with Lord Oakeshott, senior party sources have said there is no question about Mr Cable's loyalty.Although Mr Cable admitted he had discussed some polls with Lord Oakeshott, senior party sources have said there is no question about Mr Cable's loyalty.
And while they know continued turmoil could threaten to destabilise the party, sources close to Mr Clegg said Lord Oakeshott's departure had put an end to what they called a "ham-fisted coup attempt".And while they know continued turmoil could threaten to destabilise the party, sources close to Mr Clegg said Lord Oakeshott's departure had put an end to what they called a "ham-fisted coup attempt".
But BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth says it is unlikely to end all discussion over Mr Clegg's future.But BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth says it is unlikely to end all discussion over Mr Clegg's future.
'Criticised severely''Criticised severely'
Mr Cable, who is in China on government business, said: "Parties conduct polls all the time at national and local level.Mr Cable, who is in China on government business, said: "Parties conduct polls all the time at national and local level.
"In this particular case, Lord Oakeshott asked my election campaign manager if we wanted a poll done in my local constituency, we said yes. It was a private, local poll done for general election planning, absolutely nothing to do with national leadership."In this particular case, Lord Oakeshott asked my election campaign manager if we wanted a poll done in my local constituency, we said yes. It was a private, local poll done for general election planning, absolutely nothing to do with national leadership.
"I was aware that he was conducting other polls around the country and I was certainly told in general terms what the trends were, and in one particular case concerning my parliamentary private secretary Tessa Munt from Wells, we sat down and discussed the details with her."I was aware that he was conducting other polls around the country and I was certainly told in general terms what the trends were, and in one particular case concerning my parliamentary private secretary Tessa Munt from Wells, we sat down and discussed the details with her.
"But I had absolutely no knowledge of, or certainly was not involved in any commissioning of the surveys that were done in Sheffield Hallam and Inverness, and indeed I criticised him very severely.""But I had absolutely no knowledge of, or certainly was not involved in any commissioning of the surveys that were done in Sheffield Hallam and Inverness, and indeed I criticised him very severely."
He added that he regretted Lord Oakeshott's decision to leave the party.He added that he regretted Lord Oakeshott's decision to leave the party.
Lib Dem transport minister Baroness Kramer told the BBC's Newsnight programme she did not believe Mr Cable had been involved.Lib Dem transport minister Baroness Kramer told the BBC's Newsnight programme she did not believe Mr Cable had been involved.
"Vince, it seems to me, has been categorical," she said. "He didn't commission those polls. He didn't know about the polls.""Vince, it seems to me, has been categorical," she said. "He didn't commission those polls. He didn't know about the polls."
Mr Clegg had done "an exceptional job" in leading the party, she also said.Mr Clegg had done "an exceptional job" in leading the party, she also said.
Lose seatsLose seats
Mr Clegg has faced calls to step down from 300 activists while a number of constituency associations, including Liverpool and Cambridge, are to hold meetings to discuss their leader's future.Mr Clegg has faced calls to step down from 300 activists while a number of constituency associations, including Liverpool and Cambridge, are to hold meetings to discuss their leader's future.
He has said it was "wholly unacceptable" that a senior member of the party "rather than trying to go out and win votes was spending money and time trying to undermine the fortunes of the party".He has said it was "wholly unacceptable" that a senior member of the party "rather than trying to go out and win votes was spending money and time trying to undermine the fortunes of the party".
It emerged on Tuesday that Lord Oakeshott had paid for an ICM poll into Mr Clegg's electoral appeal, with results suggesting the Lib Dems would pick up votes in four seats, including Mr Clegg's, if Mr Cable or other figures replaced Mr Clegg as leader.It emerged on Tuesday that Lord Oakeshott had paid for an ICM poll into Mr Clegg's electoral appeal, with results suggesting the Lib Dems would pick up votes in four seats, including Mr Clegg's, if Mr Cable or other figures replaced Mr Clegg as leader.
The poll suggested the party was on course to lose Sheffield Hallam and three other seats - Cambridge, Redcar and Wells - next year unless there was a change at the top.The poll suggested the party was on course to lose Sheffield Hallam and three other seats - Cambridge, Redcar and Wells - next year unless there was a change at the top.
Lord Oakeshott has subsequently published poll findings suggesting the Lib Dems are vulnerable in Mr Cable's own seat, Twickenham, and Inverness, the constituency of Lib Dem Treasury minister Danny Alexander.Lord Oakeshott has subsequently published poll findings suggesting the Lib Dems are vulnerable in Mr Cable's own seat, Twickenham, and Inverness, the constituency of Lib Dem Treasury minister Danny Alexander.