Farron faces rivals as Lib Dems seek ‘vision’

THE Liberal Democrat “big beasts” who reclaimed their former seats yesterday are being urged to mount a leadership challenge to Tim Farron.

Senior party figures are touting Sir Vince Cable and Jo Swinson, both former ministers, as potential candidates amid fears that the current Lib Dem leader lacks the “vision and drive” to attract millions of centre-ground voters.

As the election results unfolded Sir Menzies Campbell, the former leader, tipped Sir Vince as a suitable successor to Mr Farron. He said the former business secretary had an “understanding of leadership responsibilities” and was a “genuinely heavy hitter”.

Yesterday, senior Lib Dem figures were privately saying the party needed to energise to make an ambitious play for the vast numbers of “voiceless” voters. But one Farron ally said: “There’s going to be no change of leadership. Tim has managed to increase the number of seats, as he promised ... he will be leader as long as he wants to be leader.”

Another senior party source said of the campaign: “We had tactics, but we didn’t have a strategy.”

One said Mr Farron deserved credit for a solid performance overseeing a net increase in the party’s MPS from eight to 12, but added: “You’ve got a Labour party that’s moving to the Left, you’ve got the Tories moving to the Right. What’s happened to the centre ground opportunity? Where’s the vision and drive?”

The source cited controversies over Mr Farron’s views, his reluctance to answer questions on abortion and gay sex, as one reason he lacked the necessary appeal. Citing Sir Vince, Ms Swinson, a former women and equalities minister, and Sir Ed Davey, the former energy secretary – also re-elected yesterday – the source said: “All three are very talented and titans in our party.”

Norman Lamb, the former health minister who previously stood for the leadership, was also being touted.

The disquiet over Mr Farron was fuelled by the near demolition of his own 8,949 majority in Westmorland and Lonsdale, Cumbria, where he hung on by just 777 votes while former leader Nick Clegg lost his seat in Sheffield.

Although Sir Menzies yesterday offered his unequivocal support to Mr Farron, earlier in the day he had stated that Sir Vince, as a former interim leader, understood the responsibility of the job, then added: “Let’s not forget Jo Swinson, one of the most talented of the younger generation of MPS of any party.”

Mr Farron has insisted that Lib Dem influence was bolstered by the results, saying the case for a referendum on the final Brexit deal “will only get stronger” as the talks continue.

The party also pointed out that he was their first leader since Charles Kennedy in 2005 to make a net gain of seats at a general election.