War on Rupert Murdoch
Ever since it was announced, UK commentators have been wondering how long Britain's coalition government could last. Now it's undergoing one of its higher-profile dust-ups after Vince Cable, the Business Secretary (and a Liberal Democratic) told undercover reporters that he had 'declared war' on media magnate Rupert Murdoch. This is not the first time Cable has put his foot in it, as the AP notes:
Earlier, Cable apologized for saying he could bring down the government if pushed and claiming public sector reforms risked running out of control.He told the journalists that that "I have a nuclear option ... If they push me too far then I can walk out and bring the government down."
Cable's Liberal Democrat party is junior partner to the Conservatives in Britain's coalition government. Before the election Cable was strongly critical of many economic policies his government now endorses as it seeks to cut public spending and slash the country's deficit.
Cable told the reporters that his desire for a tough approach to the banks, which precipitated the financial crisis, had been opposed by "our Conservative friends."
He likened the planned reforms to health care and local government to a "Maoist revolution ... which is in danger of getting out of control."
