[reece(:]

Vince Cable will step down as Liberal Democrat leader after local elections in May.

In an interview with the Mail today, the former business secretary reveals that he has decided to leave to pave the way for the ‘next generation’ to lead the party through Brexit.

He admits he had presided over a ‘gradual’ rather than a ‘spectacular’ recovery of the party.

But he says he will continue as an MP and devote his spare time to advancing his literary career with another political thriller.

Sir Vince, 75, is making the announcement today to coincide with the Lib Dem spring conference in York, the city where he was born.

Explaining his decision, he said his wife wanted to spend more time with him, while he wanted to be able to do the things ‘I can’t do now’.

The veteran MP had previously announced he would stand down after Brexit was ‘resolved’, but conceded: ‘It now looks as if it will be a protracted process, and may never happen.’

He refused to name his preferred successor, but former coalition minister Jo Swinson, former coalition energy secretary Ed Davey and Layla Moran are believed to be keen.

Following his reforms to the party, non-MP candidates could also be in the frame, including Gina Miller, the second referendum campaigner.

‘We’ve got several very good internal candidates - you can work out who they are. The worst thing I can do is to start promoting them,’ he said.



More at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...eader-May.html

Time for our Layla Moran to come THRU!

[Underscore]

Never been a fan of him tbqh, but he has been a steady pair of hands which have led us through this turbulent time and got us our best council election results in 15 ish years.

Will be putting my first preference votes to Layla Moran if she runs (fingers crossed) which I will be lobbying her to!

[joeysteele]

Glad to hear it but whoever gets the job, as Tim Farron found too.
The Lib Dem name is toxic in politics with the vast majority of voters still.

They'd be better aligning with this Independent group.
At least they'd near double their number of MPs.

At least until the next election.

[MTVN]

I don't think Moran would run or win, she's too inexperienced

Jo Swinson is the obvious choice imo if she goes for it this time

[arista]

[I don't think Moran would run or win, she's too inexperienced]

Yes fair point.
He said he was going last year
so no surprise