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Vince CableBritish politician
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
Education and Early Career
Born in York, England, Vince Cable received his education at the prestigious Cambridge University. Initially pursuing natural sciences, he later transitioned to economics, earning his PhD in 1973. Cable's academic career included a stint at the University of Nairobi in Kenya, where he met his first wife, Olympia Rebelo. From 1966 to 1968, he served as an economic advisor to the Kenyan Treasury.
Economic Expertise
Following his time in academia, Cable worked as a leading economist for Royal Dutch Shell from 1995 to 1997. His economic insights have been instrumental in his political career, with some claiming that he predicted the global financial crisis, though Cable himself has denied this assertion.
Political Life
Cable's political activism began during his student days. After graduating, he briefly pursued economics before deciding to enter British politics. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1997, representing the Liberal Democrats. Within the party, Cable held influential positions, serving as Deputy Leader from 2006 and Acting Leader from 2007. However, he chose not to stand as Leader in the subsequent election.
Scandal and Controversy
In 2013, the revelation of the NSA's Prism surveillance program ignited a global uproar. Cable, then Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, indirectly acknowledged Britain's involvement in surveillance activities, while cautiously refusing to confirm whether British intelligence used Prism data. This evasive response drew criticism and raised questions about the extent of government surveillance.
Personal Life
Cable married Rachel Wenban Smith in 2004 and remains married to this day. He wears two wedding rings in memory of his first wife, Olympia, who passed away in 2001 after a battle with breast cancer.
