Sir Vince Cable elected unopposed to Lib Dem leadership

Sir Vince Cable has been named the new leader of the Liberal Democrats Party, becoming the oldest leader of the party in its history.

Other possible contenders for the nomination Jo Swinson, Norman Lamb and Sir Ed Davey said they would not be putting their names forward and in doing so, paved the way for Cable.

The former business secretary takes lead of the Lib Dems after former party leader Tim Farron, announced his intention to stand down from the role in June after an ineffective general election campaign where in the party increased its MP tally of 9 to 12.

The 74-year old MP from Twickenham has in the past suggested a further referendum be held allowing the British public to have the last say on the UK’s departure from the EU.

Speaking today from Westminster Cable said "It will soon become clear that the Government can't deliver the painless Brexit it promised. So, we need to prepare for an exit from Brexit,” He also stated that he wanted to implement an “optimistic, alternative agenda” that would “put economics back on centre stage".

Knighted in 2016, Sir Vince was councillor for the Labour Party in the 1970s before joining first the SDP and then later the Liberal Democrats has never stood for party leadership before but has long been a key figure in the party, serving as deputy to both Sir Menzies Campbell and Nick Clegg.