Nick Clegg launches investigation into claims his supporters briefed journalists against leadership rival
Nick Clegg has launched an inquiry into claims that aides have been involved in a "dirty tricks" campaign against his leadership rival Vince Cable.
The Liberal Democrat leader is investigating an allegation that members of the media have been briefed with erroneous information damaging Cable's position in the party.
The move followed an angry complaint from an MP during a meeting of the parliamentary party at last week's Lib Dem conference in Glasgow. The dispute centres on an economic debate held during an away day for Lib Dem MPs last month.
A number of reports, including one by the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson, alleged that Cable lost heavily when he proposed at the event that the government should borrow more, at current very low interest rates, to fund more capital spending. One source, reportedly close to Clegg, told the Sun: "The good doctor has been well and truly put back in his box."
More recently, Robinson reported that Cable had lost the away day debate to his main opponent, Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the treasury, by 55 votes to two. However, at least one MP who attended has complained that this was not an accurate account of the debate. A source said: "Nick set up the debate with Danny Alexander arguing against Vince. Nick Clegg said he was in the middle on the issue and the parliamentary party should also have its say. Everyone had the chance to speak and while Cable lost, it wasn't the trouncing that has been reported. There weren't even 50 MPs there, probably more like 40. And while Cable did lose, it was probably more like 60:40 in Danny's favour. But there wasn't a formal count at all. It seems that lies have been briefed." It is understood that the reports angered a number of Lib Dem MPs who fear Cable, often tipped as a leadership rival to Clegg, has been unfairly damaged by the briefing. One MP described aides around Clegg as "the Stasi", a reference to the infamous secret police in the German Democratic Republic before the fall of the Berlin wall.
A spokesman for the party declined to comment, citing the need to keep parliamentary meetings private. However a senior Liberal Democrat source said: "Nick Clegg has always been very clear that he would not tolerate any briefings against colleagues from his team.
"One of the strengths of the party under Nick Clegg's leadership has been our unity and that will continue."
Last week, the deputy prime minister was forced to deny a rift with Cable after seeing off opposition to its economic strategy at its conference.
Liberal Democrat activists backed the leadership plan of cutting the deficit, rejecting calls for changes to the Bank of England, and housing controls to promote growth and to distance themselves from the Tories.
However Cable had initially suggested through aides that he would miss the debate prompting speculation of a behind the scenes row.
When the day came, Cable only arrived in the conference hall one hour into the debate and voted for the leadership's position – although he did not sit alongside his party leader and other ministers.
Cable has been more cautious about the state of the economy than most other ministers – including Clegg – warning that talk of a lasting recovery was premature and that it risked being derailed by another housing bubble and other factors.
His warnings have led David Cameron to call him a "Jeremiah", while former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has urged Mr Cable to be "less gloomy".