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| Vince Cable named Lib Dem leader as no other candidate emerges | Vince Cable named Lib Dem leader as no other candidate emerges |
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| Sir Vince Cable has promised to return the Liberal Democrats to “the centre of political life” after officially becoming the party’s new leader on Thursday. | Sir Vince Cable has promised to return the Liberal Democrats to “the centre of political life” after officially becoming the party’s new leader on Thursday. |
| The 74-year-old former business secretary took charge as he was the only candidate on the ballot paper when nominations closed at 4pm. He succeeds Tim Farron, who stood down after a disappointing general election campaign. At a launch event on Thursday, Farron said that his successor was “well and truly strong and Cable”. | The 74-year-old former business secretary took charge as he was the only candidate on the ballot paper when nominations closed at 4pm. He succeeds Tim Farron, who stood down after a disappointing general election campaign. At a launch event on Thursday, Farron said that his successor was “well and truly strong and Cable”. |
| In his first speech as leader, Cable said that British politics was “more polarised and divided than at any time any of us can remember”. | In his first speech as leader, Cable said that British politics was “more polarised and divided than at any time any of us can remember”. |
| “My aim is that my party will occupy [the central] space in British politics,” he said. | “My aim is that my party will occupy [the central] space in British politics,” he said. |
| Cable said he feared a “disastrous outcome” to the Brexit talks and added that he wanted to work with others in other parties on “a British project” to preserve the single market and the four freedoms. | Cable said he feared a “disastrous outcome” to the Brexit talks and added that he wanted to work with others in other parties on “a British project” to preserve the single market and the four freedoms. |
| The new leader takes charge after the early favourite for the job, Jo Swinson, stood aside and instead became deputy leader. Former cabinet minister Sir Ed Davey said he would not run for family reasons. | |
| Cable lost his Twickenham seat in 2015 but returned this year with a majority of almost 10,000. | Cable lost his Twickenham seat in 2015 but returned this year with a majority of almost 10,000. |
| Before he handed over to his successor, Farron defended his record as leader, saying that “rumours of our death did not seem exaggerated” after the election in 2015. He went on: “People looked at us and concluded we had lost reason to exist and my purpose was to prove everybody wrong.” | Before he handed over to his successor, Farron defended his record as leader, saying that “rumours of our death did not seem exaggerated” after the election in 2015. He went on: “People looked at us and concluded we had lost reason to exist and my purpose was to prove everybody wrong.” |
| Farron said revivals did not “happen by accident” and added that the party had to fight for its existence. “A revival can only happen if we gave ourselves a reason to be ... if we took a risk, a gamble. We chose to adopt the backbone Jeremy Corbyn lacks, the decisiveness Theresa May lacks and stand up for Britain’s place in Europe.” | Farron said revivals did not “happen by accident” and added that the party had to fight for its existence. “A revival can only happen if we gave ourselves a reason to be ... if we took a risk, a gamble. We chose to adopt the backbone Jeremy Corbyn lacks, the decisiveness Theresa May lacks and stand up for Britain’s place in Europe.” |
| He called his successor a “campaigner and a statesman” and said he understood more than any other party leader what threats the country faced. “This is no time to allow our destiny to be in the hands of fools or extremists,” Farron said. “This is the time for a fresh start.” | |
| More details soon ... | More details soon ... |