As expected, Vince Cable has been elected as new leader of the Liberal Democrats. Actually, "elected" is a bit misleading. The party managed to avoid a contested election after possible candidates Ed Davey, Jo Swinson and Norman Lamb decided not to throw their hats into the ring. So congratulations Vince. We look forward to working with you. </s> Sir Vince Cable is the new leader of the Liberal Democrats after no-one else stood against him in the leadership contest.

The 74-year-old Twickenham MP who was re-elected in the general election was the only candidate on the ballot paper when nominations closed today.

The leadership became vacant after former leader Tim Farron stepped down after the General Election in June earlier this year saying his religion made him a ‘subject of suspicion’ after he faced repeated questions over his views on homosexuality.

Stepping down Farron said: “The consequences of the focus on my faith is that I have found myself torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader.”

“To be a political leader – especially of a progressive, liberal party in 2017 – and to live as a committed Christian, to hold faithfully to the Bible’s teaching, has felt impossible for me.” </s> LONDON — Former British Business Secretary Vince Cable has become the new leader of the Liberal Democrats in Britain.

Nominations for the position closed Thursday without any challengers to Cable. He will take over from Tim Farron, who stepped down after the party’s lacklustre performance in the June 8 general election.

The 74-year-old Cable was prominent in the government led by former Prime Minister David Cameron when the Conservative Party was in coalition with the smaller Liberal Democrats.

Cable has opposed Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. He says the government will be unable to deliver the “painless” Brexit that it has promised. </s> SIR Vince Cable has been named leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The former business secretary has taken up the role after nominations for the post closed without him facing any challengers in his party.

The 74-year-old replaces Tim Farron who led the party to a disappointing general election where the party pocketed an increase of three MPs to 12.

Mr Farron stepped down as leader earlier this summer, stating he needed to reconcile his faith and could not do so as leader of the party due the demands it posed. </s> Sir Vince Cable has become the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The former business secretary, 74, took-up the role after nominations for the post closed without him facing any challengers.

The move comes after Tim Farron announced he would stand-down because he had been unable to reconcile his Christian faith with the demands of leading a "progressive, liberal" party.

A disappointing general election campaign saw the party increase its tally of MPs by just three to stand at 12. </s> Vince Cable, the new leader of Britain's Liberal Democrats speaks next to new deputy leader Jo Swinson in London, July 20, 2017.

LONDON (Reuters) - Veteran lawmaker Vince Cable was elected unopposed to lead Britain's pro-European Liberal Democrat Party on Thursday, promising to restore the party's influence and use it to argue for a softer exit from the European Union.

Cable, who served as business minister from 2010 to 2015 in a coalition of the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives, said before his appointment that he believed Brexit might never happen because it was too divisive and too difficult to deliver.

The 74-year old economist was the only candidate in a leadership contest triggered when Tim Farron stepped down after last month's national election.

"As the only party committed to staying in the single market and customs union, the Liberal Democrats are alone in fighting to protect our economy," he said.

The Liberal Democrats have campaigned for a second referendum on leaving the EU, to be held at the end of the Brexit negotiations. That position has been rejected by both Prime Minister Theresa May and the opposition Labour Party.

The party is Britain's fourth-largest, with 12 members in the 650-seat parliament. It was almost wiped out in a 2015 vote, and only enjoyed a small rebound in June's election, when the Conservatives lost their parliamentary majority.

"We have a government that can't govern and an opposition that can't oppose," Cable said. "Labour and the Conservatives have formed a grand coalition of chaos, driving through a hard Brexit which would deliver a massive blow to living standards."

Cable has also warned that Britain is heading towards a new financial crisis, likely to be triggered by rising interest rates, which could prompt a surge in support for anti-Brexit parties. </s> Here is Vince Cable‘s leadership manifesto, published this afternoon as nominations closed and he was declared the new leader of the Liberal Democrats. </s> Sir Vince Cable was set to take the helm of the Liberal Democrat party today with outgoing leader Tim Farron saying it is time for a “fresh start”.

The former coalition Business Secretary was the only challenger for the role and was due to be appointed this afternoon.

Sir Vince, who regained his Twickenham seat at the general election, wants to move the party to the centre ground and abandon a push for a second EU referendum.

The 74-year-old has long said a re-run of the 2016 vote would be inappropriate but he still wants the public to have a final say on the deal.

Mr Farron said: “He is exactly what we need at this moment. A campaigner and a statesman.

“The wisest person in parliament. This is the time for a fresh start. This is the time for Vince.”

The Lib Dems increased their number of MPs to 12 at the election, up from nine after their wipe-out in 2015.

Among those who made a return were former Energy Secretary Ed Davey, the MP for Kingston & Surbiton, and Scottish MP Jo Swinson, who is the party’s deputy leader. </s> Sir Vince Cable has become the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The former business secretary, 74, took up the role after nominations for the post closed without him facing any challengers.

The move comes after Tim Farron announced he would stand down because he had been unable to reconcile his Christian faith with the demands of leading a “progressive, liberal” party.

A disappointing general election campaign saw the party increase its tally of MPs by just three to stand at 12.

Sir Vince said Labour and the Tories had “abandoned” mainstream economics and claimed there was a need to prepare “an exit from Brexit”.

He said: “There is a huge gap in the centre of British politics and I intend to fill it. As the only party committed to staying in the single market and customs union, the Liberal Democrats are alone in fighting to protect our economy.

“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. Theresa May wants to take Britain back to the 1950s while Jeremy Corbyn wants to take Britain back to the 1970s. I will offer an optimistic, alternative agenda to power the country into the 2020s and beyond.

“We have a Government that can’t govern and an opposition that can’t oppose. Labour and the Conservatives have formed a grand coalition of chaos, driving through a hard Brexit which would deliver a massive blow to living standards. Both parties have abandoned mainstream economics. I want to put economics back centre stage.

“Under my leadership the Liberal Democrats will be at the centre of political life: a credible, effective party of national government.

“We have doubled our membership and our new members have given the party enormous energy. I want to give leadership to that energy, hitting the headlines and putting our party at the centre of the national debate.”
Vince Cable is acclaimed as Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom after running unopposed.