Lib Dem’s Sir Vince becomes oldest leader since Churchill

SIR VINCE CABLE has become the oldest leader of a British political party since Sir Winston Churchill after assuming the leadership of the Liberal Democrats.

The former business secretary, 74, secured the top job after nominations for the post closed without him facing any challengers. He will replace Tim Farron, who announced his resignation as party leader days after the general election campaign, during which he had faced repeated questioning over his religious beliefs.

Accepting his new role yesterday, Sir Vince pledged to make the Lib Dems Britain’s second biggest party by membership. After a humiliating election campaign his party increased its tally of MPS by just three to 12.

Speaking yesterday, Sir Vince said: “There is a huge gap in the centre of British politics and I intend to fill it. It will soon become clear that the Government can’t deliver the painless Brexit it promised. So we need to prepare for an exit from Brexit.

“Under my leadership the Liberal Democrats will be at the centre of political life: a credible, effective party of national government. We have doubled our membership and our new members have given the party enormous energy. I want to give leadership to that energy, hitting the headlines and putting our party at the centre of the national debate.”

The Daily Telegraph disclosed last week how Sir Vince is considering a plan to pay students to go to university by giving them at least £1,000 a year to study – following a similar plan announced by the Welsh government.