PM carpets Cable for failing to fight for small business

VINCE Cable came under fire from his Cabinet colleagues for failing to do enough to help small businesses yesterday – the day after Tory MPS called for his department to be abolished.

David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne read the riot act to ministers, demanding to know why they have not done more to boost growth.

The Lib Dem Business Secretary came under attack for failing to get banks lending money to small businesses and for not doing enough to lift red tape.

The Chancellor also launched a withering attack on Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman for putting EU directives protecting rare species ahead of plans to build new roads and housing.

In a sign of nerves over sluggish growth, Mr Cameron devoted the entire Cabinet discussion to implementing the Government’s growth plan.

He ordered ministers to ‘move faster’ to push through new infrastructure plans. He told them not to take ‘No’ for an answer when civil servants say there are legal problems with the plans, or when green groups complain that a rare animal’s habitat is threatened by a new building project.

One source told the Mail: ‘Vince Cable got a lot of stick over small businesses.’ Another senior No 10 source said: ‘The PM told everyone that we’ve got to stop taking “No” for an answer.’