Vince Cable’s Twickenham constituents today came out in defence of the MP after he was secretly recorded criticising coalition Government policies.

The MP appears to have emerged unscathed after being caught out in a Daily Telegraph sting which targeted a string of key Liberal Democrat figures.

Dr Cable told two undercover reporters - posing as concerned mothers from the constituency - that he could bring down the Government if he was “pushed too far” by the Conservatives. He also “declared war” on media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

His constituents this week described the sting as a “witch hunt” and echoed Dr Cable’s words that it had damaged relations between local MPs and residents.

Mark Thomas, 27, of Latham Road, said: "I didn't vote for him but I do believe it is a bit of a witch hunt. It was wrong, and entrapment, for the Telegraph to do what they did and it breaks down the confidence between Vince and his constituency. It is a shame as he was just voicing his opinion - we all do it."

Twenty-seven-year-old Jay Lockwood, also of Latham Road, said: "I like him, I voted for him and I think that actually what the papers are doing is they are on a witch hunt.

"But to be honest Vince was probably just saying what we all know anyway."

Court Way resident Matthew Bell, 38, said: "My confidence in our MP hasn't changed. I think he was a bit stupid and I think the Telegraph entirely set out to catch him out which is a bit underhand. He admitted there is conflict within the coalition but we knew that anyway. It just shows he is honest in his surgeries."

Dennis Butler, 70, of Whitton Road, said his confidence had been shaken but he would back Dr Cable in future. He added: "[Newspapers] are in business to get stories and I'm afraid it is up to people like politicans and celebrities to be on their guard. I'm still very fond of Vince but I was surprised [he was caught out]."

In an exclusive interview with the Richmond and Twickenham Times following the revelations last week, Dr Cable hit back and said the sting had "completely undermined" the work of MPs and caused “great damage” to the confidential relationship between politicians and their constituents.

He said he would have to be “more guarded” in future and spoke of his concern his constituents could be "inhibited or worried" about visiting him at his weekly surgeries.

However, he insisted he remained committed to his work in Twickenham and in the coalition Government.

Dr Cable, who is also Business Secretary, said: “I feel quite angry and strongly about this, I’ve had constituency surgeries now for 13 years every week, that’s well over 600.

“Thousands and thousands of constituents have been to see me, often on very difficult and highly confidential issues which have been respected by me and by them.

“Then somebody who isn’t a constituent falsifies their name and address and comes in with a hidden microphone - it completely undermines the whole basis on which you operate as a local MP. All my colleagues, of all parties, feel very strongly that some great damage has been done by this.”

Dr Cable was stripped of his role in deciding News Corporation's proposed takeover of BSkyB over his comments on Murdoch, but kept his cabinet job.

He ruled out taking legal action against the Telegraph but the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) is deciding whether to investigate after receiving more than 50 complaints about the secret recordings.