Vince Cable speaks to Chamber

12.13.00pm GMT Fri 12th Feb 2010

Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, was the guest speaker at Watford and West Herts Chamber of Commerce on the evening of 11 February. He spoke to more than 120 guests turned up, including a group of sixth formers from Watford Grammar School for Girls.

Vince set out the background to the present recession, two possible routes out of it, bull and bear. He spoke about how politicians and the public had to be realistic about the difficult balancing act that politicians will have to follow to ensure that we don't fall back into recession (if cuts are too draconian and fast) versus a "do nothing" approach, where we lose the confidence of the banks and international finance system.

Sal Brinton, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Watford, spoke about Watford's strong partnership between business and councils, and how public and private organisations need to work together to help our town begin its own recovery. Following the doubling of youth unemployment in Watford during 2009, she asked businesses to consider employing young people, who are finding it very hard to get jobs at the moment.