Tom Richmond: Cable reveals why we can't bank on the FSA

Conversely, York-born Vince Cable is one of the few politicians whose stock has risen during the recession and MPs' expenses scandal.

Yet, as the Lib Dem economics guru explains so candidly in his delightful memoir, Free Radical, he was "absent without leave" when the Treasury Select Committee was scrutinising Gordon Brown's FSA plan.

"I went to one or two of the meetings... I sat through hours of speeches by Tories filling out time but essentially representing City interests," admits Cable with typical honesty.

He goes on to complain about "a nice but hopeless Minister who clearly did not understand the notes passed to her by officials, which she dutifully read out". Cable added: "Many amendments were put forward to improve the legislation but were routinely rejected.

"I made a few points about the principles of regulation on consumer-related issues, but then abandoned the committee never to return... I felt that my time was better spent elsewhere."

Cable was probably right. Governments only listen when it suits them. But, as the Tories and Lib Dems step up their election campaigns by arguing that the status quo cannot continue, what are they going to do to improve the quality of the decision-making and scrutiny process?

A repeat of the FSA's failings, and Cable's non-attendance when his economic expertise was required, must not be allowed to happen.

SOME friends in Leeds dropped an email after watching the new crime adverts on television – the one with a couple going to bed saying things like "Have you remembered to leave the back door unlocked?" and "Did you leave the laptop in full view of the window?"

Fair enough, they say, families should take precautions. But these adverts, they maintain, threaten to criminalise households who are conscious about security, while overlooking the real villains – the people doing the stealing.

They should know. For, despite meticulously following the advice contained in the adverts, this couple had the misfortune to have their house burgled twice within a matter of weeks last year.

And they're still waiting for the wheels of justice to catch up with the perpetrators who, doubtlessly, will not be put off by some TV advertisements and the criminal justice system's hand-wringing in the event of any burglar being brought to book.

SINCE when has the EU become involved in the running of airports – and issues of national security such as the installation of body scanners to deter al-Qaida suicide bombers? Evidently, Brussels has to approve this plan before the scanners are installed at Heathrow and other airports.

Yet, when I last checked, Heathrow was still part of the British Airports Authority; even though this organisation is stuck in transit – just like missing baggage – because of competition rules.

This is an issue for the UK, and not the EU.

TALKING of terror, Gordon Brown began his set-piece New Year interview by repeatedly using the adjective "new" to describe the terror threat, the explosives at the disposals of would-be airline terrorists and al-Qaida's foothold in Yemen. It's nothing of the sort. Yemen has been at the vanguard of the so-called war on terror for more than a decade since the attack on the USS Cole which claimed the lives of 17 American sailors. It is also Osama bin Laden's ancestral home.

Brown's emphasis on the word "new" tried to hide the fact that he, and others, had been wrong-footed because of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

IS it any wonder why so many rail services are below standard when government departments spent nearly 35m on first class rail travel for their officials last year? If these people had to travel with ordinary passengers in second class, or used some of Yorkshire's snow-hit commuter services, they might just realise the extent to which trains are not fit for purpose – particularly in peak periods. Axing first class tickets is probably the easiest way that the Government will find to save 35m in these austere times.

DESPITE the many misgivings about school numeracy standards, Normanton MP Ed Balls is taking it a bit far by asking five-year-olds to learn about "financial management" as a consequence of the recession.

As a believer that you should never expect others to do what you cannot do personally, should not the Schools Secretary's Cabinet colleagues pass this test first – with the results published in a league table?

ACCORDING to his aides, Gordon Brown spent the New Year watching The Damned United on DVD – or, as they put it, "the football film about Leeds".

Two points. If they were trying to broaden Brown's appeal, voters will see through such clumsy phraseology. And, second, the PM should be careful about trying to emulate Brian Clough's style

of management.

Newly-released Cabinet papers show Jim Callaghan was advised in 1979 to utilise Clough, a Labour loyalist, prior to the election. Rightly, he rejected the advice, in part because a football manager is not the right person to determine who governs Britain.

THE Tories have no need to worry about BBC bias during the election. They've already won – judging by how Clare Balding, the racing

presenter renowned for her accuracy, referred to Ken Clarke as

the "Business Secretary" the other morning.

Perhaps she's had a flutter on Team Cameron.