THROUGHOUT the gloom of the worst economic recession to hit Britain since the end of World War Two, one man has consistently earned plaudits for his common sense approach to rebuilding our shattered economy. That man is Lib Dem deputy leader and treasury

THROUGHOUT the gloom of the worst economic recession to hit Britain since the end of World War Two, one man has consistently earned plaudits for his common sense approach to rebuilding our shattered economy.

That man is Lib Dem deputy leader and treasury spokesman Vince Cable, who visited Hatfield on Thursday.

Here reporter Chris Richards meets the man for an exclusive interview.

VINCE Cable's economic credentials are impressive.

He has a degree in natural science and economics from Cambridge University.

He is a former chief economist at petroleum giant Shell.

And he has published a number of books on trade and international economics, including 2009's The Storm: The World Economic Crisis and What it Means.

So why did this most prominent of national politicians pay a visit to Welwyn Hatfield?

"I try to get around the country, visiting my colleagues," he said.

"I usually go to our 63 seats that we hold and others like Watford that we expect to win next time, but it is also important I visit others that have good long-term prospects and Welwyn Hatfield is one of those."

Mr Cable, the MP for Twickenham since 1997, said Welwyn Hatfield parliamentary candidate Paul Zukowskyj and his colleagues were doing a "very good job in building up strength from a low base".

And he added: "We have already seen them [the Lib Dems] making a breakthrough in one area within the county elections."

As for the Labour Party, Mr Cable said he felt it was finished locally.

"The sense I get here, as in many comparable areas, is that the Labour Party are simply imploding," he said.

"Welwyn Hatfield used to be a Labour seat a decade ago and that has gone - and probably for good."

"People are looking for an alternative to the Conservatives that [better] represents their values and I think we do that."

Turning to the parlous state of the economy Mr Cable said the way to aid recovery would be to cut income tax and create 'green jobs', rather than slash public spending.

"There are lots of different ways in which the Government can invest to combat recession," he said.

"We should be thinking of schemes that have a long term beneficial environmental benefit.

"There are ways in which you can put people to work that contribute to the environment.