Twitter users call out Vince Cable as he refuses to apologise for missing Brexit vote

THE UK Government squeezed through a vote on the Brexit Customs Bill last night with a majority of three.

That should have been even closer. LibDem MPs Tim Farron and Vince Cable weren't present. The former was speaking at an event about what it means to be a liberal, and the latter ... nobody is really sure.

They've blamed Alistair Carmichael, the party's chief whip, for authorising their absence. He had predicted an easy win for the government.

Farron has offered his apologies, but, seemingly intent on making things worse for his party, LibDem leader Cable decided that wasn't necessary.

Instead, he took to Twitter to talk up their anti-Brexit credentials (and to remind people it was all Carmichael's fault).

We have led the fight against Brexit and we will now redouble our efforts. https://t.co/oybebXfWWE

— Vince Cable (@vincecable) July 17, 2018

Predictably, this backfired in a big way, and Twitter users had plenty to say on the matters – explaining why this was so embarrassing for the LibDems.

1

Said nobody about the LibDems ever. https://t.co/xBEmHHl6q9

— JOHN NICOLSON (@MrJohnNicolson) July 17, 2018

2

...unless there's a diary clash... https://t.co/ONtmSY55Nm

— Stephanie Merritt (@thestephmerritt) July 17, 2018

3

“I hope so, Commander, for your sake. The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am.” https://t.co/rc39BfOxiP

— Jake™️ (@CollopySmith) July 17, 2018

4

Considering the Lib Dems basically stand for one thing if they're not going to turn up to vote during one of the most crucial Brexit votes this year, they literally serve no purpose. https://t.co/vQHpB2McPA

— Shehab Khan (@ShehabKhan) July 17, 2018

5

The Lib Dem’s whole “we did not realise it would be so close” feels very like if firefighters decided to go to the cinema and then there was a fire and the firefighters were like “we did not know there would be a fire.” It is your job? You should be there..?

— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) July 17, 2018

6

So instead of apologising for missing the vote (like Tim Farron) Vince Cable instead tweets an apology by his whip, who appears to be taking the fall for the mistake. Cable still hasn't said where he was last night. https://t.co/uDR2zOx982

— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) July 17, 2018

7

What is it about this tweet that the Lib Dems thought wouldn't be relentlessly mocked?https://t.co/y1qBazOyZJ

— James Kelly (@JamesKelly) July 17, 2018

8

You’re not going to turn up *twice*? https://t.co/azLVfOwu58

— Mitch Benn (@MitchBenn) July 17, 2018

9

If you are a Remainer, you would be furious at the Lib Dem’s today. All they had to do was turn up and vote.... https://t.co/XOp6ZlMXCf

— Rob Wilson (@RobWilson_RDG) July 17, 2018

10

Does “redoubling our efforts” mean missing twice as many votes as before? https://t.co/yV2O6Z9LiX

— Greg Hands (@GregHands) July 17, 2018

11

Vince has tweeted an apology from LD chief whip Alistair Carmichael but not properly explained his own absence... One LD source has accused him of "throwing Alistair under the bus" https://t.co/CM6wlNxwWM

— Emily Ashton (@elashton) July 17, 2018

12

Some transparency please, where were you last night? What was this oh-so-important meeting outside Parliament that you had to attend? An answer would be helpful.

— Mathew Hulbert (@HulbertMathew) July 17, 2018

13

If you aren't going to rock up to crucial votes - what is the point of you?

— Parker (@parkertron) July 17, 2018

14

That's strange.. You didn't bloody turn up!!! It will take more than redoubling. Maybe actually being in attendance would be a start!

— 🇪🇺 🏳️‍🌈 Ally 🏳️‍🌈 🇪🇺 #FBPE #FBSI #SNP (@AllyDUK) July 17, 2018

15

Both Labour and LibDems messed up yesterday evening. Please, for the good of our country, work together and start providing an effective opposition to Tory Brexit.

— Imogen #FBPE (@Imogenlemon02) July 17, 2018

16

It should have been a matter of priority to be in that chamber & to vote - not reliant on the Labour Party. Sorry.

This stuff is changing our history & Tim is giving a talk in a church hall.

Not good enough!

— Fish in a hat #FBPE #ABTV #FBR #stopbrexit 🐟 (@fish_in_a_hat) July 17, 2018

17

You need to be in your place of work when it counts though - people like me who've spent hundreds of hours laying foundations for you felt you had really let us down - dejected - we need to see you and your team raise your PROFILES and get out there for our sake

— Chris J Keelty (@ChrisKeelty) July 17, 2018

18

"Redoubling our efforts" Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha

— Simon_W (@MadManDrivel) July 17, 2018

19

It's not just the vote, what about the debate beforehand? Had you nothing to say?

— Declan Higgins #FBPE (@declan1968) July 17, 2018