Vince Cable ‘may stand for leader’

Vince Cable has given a strong hint he would consider running for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats, as he insisted age should not be a barrier to taking a leading role in politics.

Speaking to the House magazine, the Business Secretary, who is 69, also appeared to disagree publicly with his leader, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, over immigration.

Ahead of Mr Clegg’s major speech today, Mr Cable said the policy to reduce the number by tens of thousands was “Conservative policy, not government policy.”

Mr Cable made it clear he intends to stand as an MP again in 2015. Then, in a strong hint on leadership ambitions, he said: “Well, [William Gladstone] became prime minister when he was over 80, didn’t he? Churchill was over 70, wasn’t he?

“Deng Xiaoping totally transformed China in the last century,” he added. “I think he was 80 when he took over.”