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| Labour pursuit of fantasy politics leaves vast gap, says Lib Dem leader | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Tories could be in power for a quarter of a century without viable opposition, the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has said. But he stopped short of saying the party would not field candidates in some seats to allow other non-Conservatives a “free run”. | The Tories could be in power for a quarter of a century without viable opposition, the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has said. But he stopped short of saying the party would not field candidates in some seats to allow other non-Conservatives a “free run”. |
| Speaking on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show, Farron said the “tragedy” of the Labour party “choosing to go off down a populist, I would say unelectable route” had left a vast gap. | Speaking on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show, Farron said the “tragedy” of the Labour party “choosing to go off down a populist, I would say unelectable route” had left a vast gap. |
| “The opportunity for us is enormous. And if Labour won’t oppose the Conservative government, we will,” he said. | “The opportunity for us is enormous. And if Labour won’t oppose the Conservative government, we will,” he said. |
| Farron also said Britain would “sleepwalk” out of the European Union without a referendum on any Brexit deal. | Farron also said Britain would “sleepwalk” out of the European Union without a referendum on any Brexit deal. |
| Asked whether he could work together with other parties in a pro-EU push, he said: “My job is to build a progressive movement that can challenge the Conservative party. | Asked whether he could work together with other parties in a pro-EU push, he said: “My job is to build a progressive movement that can challenge the Conservative party. |
| “My view is that Britain will sleepwalk out of Europe unless the Liberal Democrats can grow and build support for us to have that referendum on the deal, which we must have. And that we will have a Tory government, maybe for the rest of many of our lifetimes, as Neil Kinnock suggested, unless the Liberal Democrats can step in and fill the space that the Labour party has now deserted, and that is a big project. It’s a massive duty, and I’m prepared to do it.” | “My view is that Britain will sleepwalk out of Europe unless the Liberal Democrats can grow and build support for us to have that referendum on the deal, which we must have. And that we will have a Tory government, maybe for the rest of many of our lifetimes, as Neil Kinnock suggested, unless the Liberal Democrats can step in and fill the space that the Labour party has now deserted, and that is a big project. It’s a massive duty, and I’m prepared to do it.” |
| Asked whether he would allow Lib Dems to stand down in some seats to allow other non-Conservatives a free run, he failed to commit. | Asked whether he would allow Lib Dems to stand down in some seats to allow other non-Conservatives a free run, he failed to commit. |
| “I think the danger in all of this … it’s all kind of political parlour room discussions about coalitions and pacts and all the rest of it. I don’t think most people out there are interested in that. What they want is a clear voice that can hold the Conservative government to account.” | “I think the danger in all of this … it’s all kind of political parlour room discussions about coalitions and pacts and all the rest of it. I don’t think most people out there are interested in that. What they want is a clear voice that can hold the Conservative government to account.” |
| Farron added: “What we are up against is a rise in populism. That is the new dichotomy in politics. Populism, nationalism versus liberalism.” | Farron added: “What we are up against is a rise in populism. That is the new dichotomy in politics. Populism, nationalism versus liberalism.” |
| He said Lib Dem membership had almost doubled since the last election, and the party had made gains in local government. | He said Lib Dem membership had almost doubled since the last election, and the party had made gains in local government. |
| “I would argue we are in a very, very good place at the moment. The election last May was devastating for us. But look what has happened since. Massive things have happened in this country. One is that Britain now looks to be heading out of the EU. I would say that is disastrous for our country, disastrous for our society, bad for liberalism. | “I would argue we are in a very, very good place at the moment. The election last May was devastating for us. But look what has happened since. Massive things have happened in this country. One is that Britain now looks to be heading out of the EU. I would say that is disastrous for our country, disastrous for our society, bad for liberalism. |
| “The other is the Labour party’s choice to go down a route which is fantasy, populist politics. And the gap there for a liberal party with a clear plan for how Britain should operate in the world now is vast.” | “The other is the Labour party’s choice to go down a route which is fantasy, populist politics. And the gap there for a liberal party with a clear plan for how Britain should operate in the world now is vast.” |