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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Lib Dems: Davey rules himself out of leadership race | Lib Dems: Davey rules himself out of leadership race |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Former cabinet minister Sir Ed Davey has ruled himself out of the race to be the next Liberal Democrat leader. | Former cabinet minister Sir Ed Davey has ruled himself out of the race to be the next Liberal Democrat leader. |
| The ex-energy secretary said he had taken the decision with his family in mind and amid concerns about the "inevitable intrusion" that a leadership bid would entail. | The ex-energy secretary said he had taken the decision with his family in mind and amid concerns about the "inevitable intrusion" that a leadership bid would entail. |
| Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable is so far the only candidate to throw his hat into the ring. | Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable is so far the only candidate to throw his hat into the ring. |
| Norman Lamb is among prominent figures to have ruled themselves out. | Norman Lamb is among prominent figures to have ruled themselves out. |
| Former Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael has also declined to stand while Jo Swinson, who was seen as a frontrunner, was recently elected as deputy leader. | Former Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael has also declined to stand while Jo Swinson, who was seen as a frontrunner, was recently elected as deputy leader. |
| Candidates from among the party's 12 MPs who want to succeed Tim Farron have until 20 July to declare. | Candidates from among the party's 12 MPs who want to succeed Tim Farron have until 20 July to declare. |
| In a statement on the Lib Dem Voice website, Mr Davey - who served in the cabinet between 2012 and 2015 and who returned to Parliament at the election after losing his seat two years ago - said the decision not to run had been a difficult one. | |
| But he said he had to put the needs of his family and his two children - one of whom is severely disabled - ahead of his political ambitions for the time being. | But he said he had to put the needs of his family and his two children - one of whom is severely disabled - ahead of his political ambitions for the time being. |
| "Being there for my children over the next few crucial years and to see those special moments is my personal priority," he wrote. | "Being there for my children over the next few crucial years and to see those special moments is my personal priority," he wrote. |
| "So my decision not to stand now to be leader of our party is a difficult one, but it is rooted in my family. | "So my decision not to stand now to be leader of our party is a difficult one, but it is rooted in my family. |
| "The need to be there for my young children and not continually away from home; the need to protect my family from the inevitable intrusion on our lives; and the need to protect myself from pressures that would otherwise compromise my job as a father while they are still so young." | "The need to be there for my young children and not continually away from home; the need to protect my family from the inevitable intrusion on our lives; and the need to protect myself from pressures that would otherwise compromise my job as a father while they are still so young." |
| The 51-year old said he wanted to play a "big part" in continuing to rebuild the party, which he said must focus on telling the public what it was for rather than what it was against. | |
| "If I'd run, my message would have been simple: we need to be the party of reform, challenging the status quo. Saying the uncomfortable things. Recognising how broken our politics is," he wrote. | |
| Sir Vince, now the clear favourite to become leader, tweeted in response: "Very much admire & respect what my friend and colleague has said today about the importance of family." | |
| Tim Farron is standing down this summer saying he could no longer reconcile being a committed Christian with being the leader of a progressive political party. | Tim Farron is standing down this summer saying he could no longer reconcile being a committed Christian with being the leader of a progressive political party. |