Swinson and Davey run for Lib Dem leadership
Party prepares to select successor to Sir Vince Cable after polling success in Euro elections
JO SWINSON and Sir Ed Davey are set to battle for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats as the party attempts to capitalise on its European election gains.
Ms Swinson, the deputy leader of the party, is the bookies’ favourite to succeed Sir Vince Cable this summer.
The Liberal Democrats came second in the European elections with 20 per cent of the vote, ahead of Labour and the Conservatives. Ms Swinson said the election result showed Labour needed to take a decisive stance on Brexit.
“Clearly Labour has had an atrocious night and absolutely needs to get off the Brexit fence,” she told Today on BBC Radio 4.
“I spoke to so many former Labour voters, people in some cases who had voted Labour their entire lives, who voted Liberal Democrat for the first time on Thursday.
“We have really been bringing people together as the Liberal Democrats – to be able to get Michael Heseltine and Alastair Campbell united in the voting booth is no mean feat.”
She also invited supporters of Change UK and other parties to switch to the Lib Dems. “We will continue to be working with people in all different parties who want to secure a people’s vote and to protect our place in the EU. That includes people in Change UK and the Greens,” she said.
Ms Swinson said she would be setting out her leadership plans this week.
Commenting on the election result, Sir Ed, the party’s home affairs spokesman, said the Liberal Democrats “are back in business”.
Last week Sir Vince confirmed that he will hand over the reins to his successor on July 23. He said the new leader needed to continue “the battle to stop Brexit”, and to seize “the opportunity created by the conflict and decay within the two main parties to build a powerful, liberal, green, and social democratic force in the centre ground of British politics”.
Nominations are open for the leadership and will close on June 7. Candidates must have the backing of at least 10 per cent of the parliamentary party and be supported by at least 200 members spread across at least 20 local parties. Other potential candidates include Norman Lamb, a former health minister, and Tom Brake. Layla Moran, the party’s education spokesman, ruled herself out after admitting she had slapped her then boyfriend at a party conference in 2013.