Vince Cable is a British politician and elected leader of the Liberal Democrats since 2017 and has worked as an economist in the public and private sectors. He is also known as MP for Twickenham (1997-2015 and 2017), Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (2010-2015) under former Prime Minister David Cameron, and party spokesperson Liberal Democrat for Trade and Commerce. Industry, for business, innovation and skills and for the Treasury.
Vince Cable’s Bio
Born John Vincent Cable on May 9, 1943 in York, England to a conservative family where his father was Len Cable, a craftsman who worked for Rowntree’s and Edith Cable. Her mother wrapped chocolates for British chocolatier Terry’s. For his education, Cable went to Nunthorpe Grammar School, then to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he first studied natural sciences before majoring in economics.
At Cambridge in 1965, he became Cambridge Union President, Committee Member, and President-elect of the University of Cambridge Liberal Club, but left office following his resignation from the Liberal Party. A 1966 graduate, Cable was appointed to Kenya by an ODI Nuffield Fellow. While there, Cable served as finance officer for the Government of Kenya from 1966 to 1968; He was also a researcher for the Central American Common Market during his visit to Central America in 1969.
Returning home from Kenya and America, Cable went for his PhD graduating from the University of Glasgow where he studied economics and graduated in 1973. He was also a lecturer in economics and was Glasgow Labor Councilor from 1971 to 1974.
From 1974 to 1990, Vince Cable worked as an economist in the service of Hugh Carless as First Secretary of the Latin American Department of the Foreign Office. He got involved in CBI’s trade mission to South America. He later became a special adviser to then British Trade Secretary John Smith, as well as Shridath Sonny Ramphal, then Commonwealth Secretary General.
He then worked for Royal Dutch Shell in 1990 and became chief economist from 1995 to 1997 when the oil company was sanctioned for its involvement in Nigerian politics under the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. In 2017, Vince Cable was the strategic advisor to the annual global trade symposium hosted by FT Live and Misys at the World Trade Board.
Family Life – Who is his wife? Rachel Smith
Vince Cable got married to Olympia Rebelo Cable in 1968 after meeting in a mental hospital in York and a long courtship in Kenya. Olympia who was brought up by Indian parents also went for her doctorate. at the University of Glasgow, studied history and became a teacher. Together they have three children namely; Paul, Aida and Hugo Cable. They also have two grandchildren – Ayrton Cable and Charlie Cable. However, he lost Olympia to recurring cancer in 2001.
After the death of his first wife at the end of the 2001 general election, Cable was invited by the UN to speak with the New Forest branch, where he met his recently divorced second wife, Rachel Smith with children. When he visited his farm, a relationship was established and in 2004 the lovebirds got married. Cable, who has always enjoyed ballroom dancing with his wife Olympia, appeared on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing with partner Erin Boag for the 2010 Christmas special.
Other facts to know about Vince Cable
Vince Cable is not only the oldest leader of the Liberal Democratic Party at 74, he is also the most experienced in politics. He began his political journey as a Liberal before 1965, then defected to Labor in 1966. A series of defeats as he tried to run for political office under the Labor Party’s platform the saw change to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1982. .
In 1988, the party formed an alliance with The liberal party was called the Liberal Democrats. Cable pursued his political ambitions as a Member of Parliament but was defeated in 1992. Not giving up, he challenged again in 1997 and replaced Tory Toby Jessel as the new Liberal Democrat MP in the Twickenham constituency from 1 May 1997. to March 30, 2015 and again on June 9, 2017.
The sage of Twickenham was later promoted to Liberal Democrat spokesman for trade and industry in 1999 and then in 2003 was elected Liberal Democrat spokesman for the Treasury. Following the resignation of Menzie Campbell in 2006, Cable became Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and held the same position under Nick Clegg from March 2, 2006 until May 2010.
In May 2010, Cable became Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Speaker of the House under Speaker David Cameron. His appointment was due to the agreement between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. He left his position on May 11, 2015.
While holding these positions of influence, he also held strong positions and helped shape most government policies. She was also part of the British Green Investment Bank project. Vince Cable was again chosen as his party’s spokesperson for business, innovation and skills from January 2015 to May 2015 and on 20 July 2017 he assumed the role of leader of the Liberal Democratic Party along with Jo Swinson as a substitute.
Vince Cable was knighted in 2015 and he supports many charities such as The Mulberry Centre, Homelink, Shooting Star, Spear, Cross Roads Care, Jeevika and many others.