Vince Cable, the Lib Dems' deputy leader and treasury spokesman, is one of the few politicians to have seen their approval rating soar during the financial crisis. But like most politicians his supporters are good at spinning. They claim he predicted the credit crunch, but so did around a dozen eminent economists - the trouble was no one listened.
The thing about Mr Cable is that his monotone accountant-style delivery - which 12 months ago brought him a certain amount of ridicule - is exactly what's called for when making speeches about the economy these days. Those measured tones had the 200 senior business figures at the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce President's Dinner at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Leicester capitivated.
It was the second time I had interviewed Mr Cable in four months, after I caught up with him when he visited businesses in south Leicestershire earlier in the year. That day I spent two hours driving around the Harborough area with him. It was fascinating to see a senior politician at work. His mobile phone never stopped ringing, with calls from numerous national journalists and one call from the BBC's Question Time about his appearance on the show that evening.
It made the £25 parking fine I received for overstaying in a street parking bay in Market Harborough well worth it.
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