Thank you.  I was just about ready to cut the speedometer cable off, but I know from experience that my hand is too big too screw the engine end of the speedometer cable into the engine compartment. I did would you said and it came right off. 

Thanks again

You need to start using mechanic's rubber gloves - they are oil and fuel resistant and, more importantly they keep your blood from messing everything up.

Thank you Silver Bullet you did not fail me. BTW I caught the humour in your comment.
I will say the to everyone that is a s confused as I was about the action to get the release, I used a small pick , slid it in the groove under the white plastic and pried the white plastic retainer outward away from the cable and with very little force it popped free.
My hands are still bleeding regardless as it is a mini and when jamming flesh into any space on a Mini seems to always encounter pointy, jagged , sharp plastic or metal!

Next time take it to a mechanic and pay their outrageous prices, since everyone failed you.

at least we dont charge a dime hehe yeah i got the picture although i thought this type was only with the 2 clock fascia

MiniMania forum - you failed me!  

For the record - all the responses above were incorrect for my car ('95 Mini Cooper SPI).  It wasn't squeezing or turning.   On this car, you slip a small flatblade screw driver under a tab on one side, lift it up slightly and then pull back on the white plastic part.  It unclips and the cable pulls free.

 

 

Squeeze the whitel plastic part on the end of the cable and pull it off the speedo.., it does not unscrew, it just clips on..

I can't remember how the later one works...although I had replaced mine.

Maybe seeing the end will help.
( think this is the right one )

//www.minimania.com/part/GSD487/425-Speedometer-Cable-Seiki-Mini--Mini-Cooper-Rhd

 

If i remember correctly its push and turn anticlockwise..

Hey folks - it's a 1995 Rover Mini Cooper SPI.

 

Trying to remove the dashboard and only thing holding it is the speedo cable now.  I can reach the back of it but can feel how it releases?  IT has a plastic cover and when I turn that, it just feels like it is winding up like a spring.  Any advice how to release it?