Cable, 74, leads Lib Dems with pledge on ‘exit from Brexit’
VINCE Cable promised an ‘exit from Brexit’ as he became the new leader of the Liberal Democrats yesterday.
Despite his party’s poor performance after contesting the election on an anti-Brexit platform, the former business secretary vowed to continue to fight the referendum result.
Sir Vince compared leaving the EU to ‘jumping off a cliff and hoping there’s a tree to catch you’ and said Theresa May no longer had ‘serious political authority’.
He took the helm of the Lib Dems yesterday after no one else stood for the leadership. At 74, he is the oldest leader in the party’s history.
‘There is a huge gap in the centre of politics and I intend to fill it,’ he said. ‘As the only party committed to staying in the single market and customs union, the Liberal Democrats are alone in fighting to protect our economy.’
He said the party would offer a second referendum on leaving the EU despite recent polls suggesting most of the country backs Brexit.
Sir Vince added: ‘What we now need is an exit from Brexit. The exit from Brexit comes as a result of the policy that we have adopted, which is that we must consult the British public at the end of the process.’
Sir Vince insisted he was not a caretaker leader and would fight the next election despite the fact that he will be nearly 80 at the time.
Outgoing leader Tim Farron resigned last month, saying he was unable to reconcile his Christian faith with leading a liberal party. He faced repeated questions about whether he believed gay sex was a sin and whether he thought abortion was wrong.
Sir Vince said yesterday the Government’s approach to Brexit would lead to a ‘disastrous outcome’, with negotiations being conducted by a ‘dysfunctional’ administration.