vince cable wants a substantial role in government and envisages working with the conservatives again .
similarly , some labour mps fantasise that if only boyish ed miliband could have persuaded uncle vince , with his provincial bank manager 's air and twinkly peacock blue eyes , since he once was a labour politician , albeit a councillor , in the 1970s .
but as we sit on the terrace of the quirkily named barmy arms pub by the thames in his twickenham constituency , business secretary cable says something , which on first hearing , sounds even more barmy .