Vince Cable at Hay

8.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 1st Jun 2009

Vince signs book for Phil Bennion

Vince Cable was the undoubted star at the Hay on Wye festival, where he was speaking to John Harris of the Guardian about his book on the financial meltdown, "The Storm". Vince entertained a sell-out crowd of 1200 book lovers with his distinctive mixture of wit and erudition. The event was sponsored by the Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG)thanks to the initiative of Powys Councillor Bill Powell, who also happens to represent Wales on the LDEG executive as well as being a candidate in the European Election for the West Midlands. In a lively question and answer session Vince poured cold water on the suggestion that he might accept an invitation from Gordon Brown to become Chancellor and was urged by another member of the audience to "seize power". "Vince drew the biggest crowd of the festival" said LDEG Chair Phil Bennion who had strayed a few hundred yards outside of his West Midlands Euro-constituency to attend the event. "LDEG are proud to have sponsored Vince's appearance".

LDEG event at Hay

Other notable attendees were local MP Roger Williams, Hereford PPC Sarah Carr and LDEG vice chair George Dunk.

The photo shows Vince Cable signing a copy of "The Storm" for Phil.

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