New Lib Dem leader Cable in Brexit pledge
Lib Dems at a crossroads
SIR VINCE Cable has become the new leader of the Liberal Democrats with a promise to offer voters the possibility of an “exit from Brexit” through a second referendum on EU membership.
The former Business Secretary took up the role after nominations for the post closed without him facing any challengers.
At the age of 74, York-born Sir Vince is now the oldest leader of the major parties by six years.
He said that he aimed to ensure that the Lib Dems occupy the “gigantic space in the middle of British politics” left by the two main parties’ move to the extremes.
The vacancy for the leadership came after Tim Farron announced he would stand down because he had been unable to reconcile his Christian faith with the demands of leading a “progressive, liberal” party. A disappointing General Election campaign saw the party increase its tally of MPs by just three to stand at 12.
Speaking in Westminster shortly after being named leader yesterday, Sir Vince said the Government’s approach to Brexit was taking Britain towards the “disastrous outcome” of crashing out of the European Union.
Sir Vince insisted he was not a stop-gap leader, saying: “I will serve for as long as I need to.
“I’m not here for the short term. I’m not here as a caretaker.”
IT WAS assumed that Sir Vince Cable would be unveiled as the new Liberal Democrats leader at the party’s conference in September. However, given the conspicuous lack of challengers, and with potential rivals such as Jo Swinson, Norman Lamb and Sir Ed Davey having already ruled out standing, the party has pressed ahead with Sir Vince’s ‘coronation’.
The 74-year-old takes over the leadership role vacated by Tim Farron who stepped down last month following a disappointing General Election in which the party increased its number of MPs from nine to 12 but saw its share of the vote drop to less than eight per cent.
Sir Vince certainly has the gravitas his predecessor was lacking and, with a wealth of experience both inside and outside Parliament, he cannot be accused of being a career politician – a label that former leader Nick Clegg, for all his merits, struggled to shake.
However, the former Business Secretary takes over a party that is at a crossroads. During the election the Lib Dems pledged to give the public the final say on the terms of the UK’s exit from the EU in a further referendum, which failed to resonate with voters.
Sir Vince claims he never expected to return to Parliament and was preparing a lecture series and finishing a novel when the snap election gave him the chance to win back his Twickenham seat.
With the country about to enter a crucial phase of Brexit talks, the outcome of which will shape this country’s future for years to come, he must not only galvanise his party but convince the electorate that his party still has a purpose – it may prove to be his most difficult challenge yet.