In 2007, during the Liberal Democrat leadership election, Vince Cable served as acting leader. Mr. Cable excelled in this role and left many Liberal Democrats wishing that he had stood for the leadership.
Harriet Harman, the current acting leader of the Labour party, is shining in her role and yet, like Cable, she is not standing for the leadership to the regret of many Labour members. What made Vince Cable so popularity was his great performances in the House of Commons, at one point saying of Gordon Brown "The House has noticed the Prime Minister's remarkable transformation in the past few weeks from Stalin to Mr. Bean." Ms. Harman is also performing very well in the Commons, saying of Vince Cable this week "The House has noticed his remarkable transformation in the past few weeks from national treasure to Treasury poodle."
This is hardly surprising as Ms. Harman was Leader of the House for 3 years, meaning she was in the chamber for most of the time, listening to and answering questions on many topics. So she knows what works and what doesn't. The next Labour leader might want to ask her advice before taking to the Commons, just as Nick Clegg did of Vince Cable.
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