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Vince Cable launches Lib Dem leadership bid Vince Cable launches Lib Dem leadership bid
(about 2 hours later)
Vince Cable has launched his bid to become the next leader of the Liberal Democrats just over a week after winning back the Twickenham seat he lost to the Tories in 2015.Vince Cable has launched his bid to become the next leader of the Liberal Democrats just over a week after winning back the Twickenham seat he lost to the Tories in 2015.
The former business secretary is the first party figure to go public with his bid to replace Tim Farron, who announced that he would be stepping down as Lib Dem leader last week, saying he found it “impossible” to lead the party and live “as a faithful Christian” having faced questions about his attitude to abortion and homosexuality.The former business secretary is the first party figure to go public with his bid to replace Tim Farron, who announced that he would be stepping down as Lib Dem leader last week, saying he found it “impossible” to lead the party and live “as a faithful Christian” having faced questions about his attitude to abortion and homosexuality.
“I am ready to commit my energy, enthusiasm and experience to the task of leading the Liberal Democrats through what will be a period of chronic uncertainty,” he wrote in a blog on Lib Dem Voice. “With the prospect of another election looming large, we must be ready for the fight.” “I am ready to commit my energy, enthusiasm and experience to the task of leading the Liberal Democrats through what will be a period of chronic uncertainty,” Cable, 74, wrote in a blog on Lib Dem Voice. “With the prospect of another election looming large, we must be ready for the fight.”
Speaking later on BBC Radio 5 Live, Cable said he could step down in future for a younger successor. He will by 79 by the next general election, but said he felt young enough to do the job, comparing himself to William Gladstone, who became prime minister aged 82.
“When the question arises, of a general election coming up, I’ve then got to make a choice; do I let one of my very able younger colleagues take over or do I do what William Gladstone did, quite a while ago, he became prime minister when he was 82, I think, way beyond my years. Winston Churchill did in his mid-70s,” he said.
“I mean these things happen, some of the brightest and most interesting people in British politics recently have been relatively old. You remember Bernie Sanders in America as well. I think age is a surety, if you feel old. I don’t feel old. I feel young and energetic and I’m very much up for a contest.”
Jo Swinson, the East Dunbartonshire MP who was understood to be the members’ favourite and Farron’s preferred successor, announced last week she would not run for the leadership. She is likely to be named the party’s deputy leader after nominations for that post close on Tuesday afternoon.Jo Swinson, the East Dunbartonshire MP who was understood to be the members’ favourite and Farron’s preferred successor, announced last week she would not run for the leadership. She is likely to be named the party’s deputy leader after nominations for that post close on Tuesday afternoon.
Swinson’s decision not to run means the party is likely to have an all-male shortlist for its leadership contest, despite having several new female MPs.Swinson’s decision not to run means the party is likely to have an all-male shortlist for its leadership contest, despite having several new female MPs.
Cable said he would put scrutinising the Brexit negotiations at the centre of his leadership, reaffirming Farron’s central pledge of the election campaign to fight for a second referendum on the terms of the EU exit deal. In the blog announcing his leadership, Cable said he would put scrutiny of the Brexit negotiations at the centre of his leadership, reaffirming Farron’s central pledge of the election campaign to fight for a second referendum on the terms of the EU exit deal.
However, unlike Farron – who ruled out deals or pacts with opposition parties – Cable said the Lib Dems “will need to work with like-minded people in other parties”.However, unlike Farron – who ruled out deals or pacts with opposition parties – Cable said the Lib Dems “will need to work with like-minded people in other parties”.
Cable also said he would fight on his economic record, including early warnings of the 2008 financial crisis. “With the economy approaching the Brexit iceberg, Liberal Democrats need more than ever to warn of the dangers ahead and the need for a new course,” he said.Cable also said he would fight on his economic record, including early warnings of the 2008 financial crisis. “With the economy approaching the Brexit iceberg, Liberal Democrats need more than ever to warn of the dangers ahead and the need for a new course,” he said.
The MP said the Conservatives were “in disarray and in retreat” and that he did not believe Labour could continue to make gains, citing the party’s economic record.The MP said the Conservatives were “in disarray and in retreat” and that he did not believe Labour could continue to make gains, citing the party’s economic record.
“The Labour party outperformed expectations but complacently believes that ‘one more heave’ will see it into office,” he said.“The Labour party outperformed expectations but complacently believes that ‘one more heave’ will see it into office,” he said.
“But an economic policy based on offering lots of free things lacks economic credibility and will be found out. Investing in infrastructure, rather than borrowing for everyday running costs is credible. There is a big space in British politics which I am determined that we should occupy.”“But an economic policy based on offering lots of free things lacks economic credibility and will be found out. Investing in infrastructure, rather than borrowing for everyday running costs is credible. There is a big space in British politics which I am determined that we should occupy.”
Cable was MP for Twickenham from 1997 until 2015, but lost to Conservative Tania Mathias in 2015, before winning the seat back the south-west London seat this month. Farron’s leadership campaign hinged on his ability to distance himself from the coalition government because he had never held a ministerial position.Cable was MP for Twickenham from 1997 until 2015, but lost to Conservative Tania Mathias in 2015, before winning the seat back the south-west London seat this month. Farron’s leadership campaign hinged on his ability to distance himself from the coalition government because he had never held a ministerial position.
He said the party had “survived five difficult years of coalition government and the disadvantage of the current unreformed voting system”.He said the party had “survived five difficult years of coalition government and the disadvantage of the current unreformed voting system”.
“We are now growing again and the political winds are moving in our favour. I believe I can, as leader, offer the energy, dedication and drive, as well as experience, to help – with you – to make our party a credible contender for power,” he said.“We are now growing again and the political winds are moving in our favour. I believe I can, as leader, offer the energy, dedication and drive, as well as experience, to help – with you – to make our party a credible contender for power,” he said.
Allies of Farron said the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale had been planning his departure within a year after a mixed election result in which the party gained four seats on their 2015 total but lost several MPs, including former party leader Nick Clegg.Allies of Farron said the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale had been planning his departure within a year after a mixed election result in which the party gained four seats on their 2015 total but lost several MPs, including former party leader Nick Clegg.
However, interventions from several high-profile Lib Dems who expressed concern about his leadership, including the way he had answered questions on whether gay sex was a sin, convinced him to step down earlier. Swinson and Cable are not believed to be among them. However, interventions from several high-profile Lib Dems who expressed concern about his leadership, including the way he had answered questions on whether gay sex was a sin, convinced him to step down earlier. Swinson and Cable were not believed to be among them.
The Kingston and Surbiton MP, Ed Davey, another former coalition cabinet minister who won back his seat from the Conservatives, is also mulling a leadership bid. “Thanks for kind messages on standing for leader. Was intending to back Jo but now she’s decided not to run, am giving it serious thought!,” he tweeted last week.The Kingston and Surbiton MP, Ed Davey, another former coalition cabinet minister who won back his seat from the Conservatives, is also mulling a leadership bid. “Thanks for kind messages on standing for leader. Was intending to back Jo but now she’s decided not to run, am giving it serious thought!,” he tweeted last week.
Norman Lamb, the MP for North Norfolk who has been a high-profile voice on mental health, is also a likely candidate, having been defeated by Farron in the Lib Dem 2015 leadership contest. Were the party to elect Lamb, it would signal a change of direction on Europe – he did not vote against the triggering of article 50 and has said the party’s job should be to fight for membership of the single market rather than a rerun of the referendum. Norman Lamb, the MP for North Norfolk who has been a high-profile voice on mental health, is also a likely candidate, having lost to Farron in the Lib Dem 2015 leadership contest. Were the party to elect Lamb, it would signal a change of direction on Europe – he did not vote against the triggering of article 50 and has said the party’s job should be to fight for membership of the single market rather than a rerun of the referendum.