Vince Cable says he could quit as Lib Dem leader as early as next year
2 min read
Vince Cable has confirmed that he will stand down as leader of the Liberal Democrats and that the move could come as early as next year.
The Twickenham MP said he would not set an “artificial” date on exiting the post, but that it would come after Brexit had been “resolved” and the party had agreed a series of internal reforms.
Dr Cable said he wanted to fight the local elections which are due to take place next May and would be ready for any snap general election which arose from Britain's exit from the EU next March.
The 75-year-old said that while he “did not wish to emulate Gladstone who kept going into his mid-80s nor outlast Robert Mugabe”, reports of his imminent departure were “wide of the mark”.
Addressing an audience in London, he said: “There is serious work for our party to do.
“To that end, once Brexit is resolved or stopped and if the new rules are agreed, that will be the time to conduct a leadership contest under the new rules."
His comments came as he confirmed plans to build "a movement for moderates" which could even see non-party members given a vote in leadership elections, and allowing non-MPs to stand for the top job.
He said: "Whatever rights our new supporters gain, we as a party aim to be in constant conversation with them, engaging them in campaigns and urging them to begin campaigns of their own..."
"What I want is for our party to do that, and to offer our movement a political arm within Parliament.
“So, it is not just a protest group on the outside banging at the door, but a mass movement with a voice on the inside – our parliamentary party…”
“A movement for moderates, battling against Brexit, and standing up for fairness and opportunity against power and privilege in our country.
“So I invite all the millions of liberal, centre-ground voters out there who share those values, and who want to change our politics, to sign up on our website today. So that we can fight for liberal values together.”
He also called on disenchanted Labour and Tory MPs to ditch their "tribalism" and embrace the new movement, or risk splitting the centre-ground.
“Indeed, there is a danger in becoming like the scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian where the Judean People’s Front refuses to work with the People’s Front of Judea for the most petty of reasons,” he added.
“But this is not a Monty Python sketch, it is the future of our country.
“History will not forgive anyone whose vanity and self-importance causes them to turn away the hand of friendship.”
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