Liberal Democrats must not go from 'Dad to Grandad', Jo Swinson allies say as they hit out at Vince Cable

Vince Cable, a potential candidate for the Liberal Democrat leadership
Vince Cable, a potential candidate for the Liberal Democrat leadership

Vince Cable is too old to be Liberal Democrat leader, allies of frontrunner Jo Swinson have claimed, as they insisted the party must not go “from the dad to the grandad” when Tim Farron is replaced.

Senior party sources view Ms Swinson, who is yet to announce that she will run, as the overwhelming favourite to take over from Mr Farron, with supporters of the current leader expected to “swing behind” the newly elected MP for East Dunbartonshire.

Mr Farron announced his shock resignation on Wednesday as he said it would be “impossible” to continue in the role while remaining “faithful to Christ" after a bruising election campaign in which he was repeatedly grilled over his views on abortion and gay sex.

Mr Cable, 74, former health minister Norman Lamb and former energy secretary Sir Ed Davey have all been floated as potential successors but it is the 37-year-old Ms Swinson who is seen by some within the party as Mr Farron’s “heir apparent”.

Tim Farron stood down as Liberal Democrat leader
Tim Farron stood down as Liberal Democrat leader

A senior party source suggested Mr Cable, the former business secretary who secured a return to the House of Commons by winning back his Twickenham seat on June 8, would be ill-suited to re-energising the party.

“I think this is a next generation thing,” they said. “I don’t think you go from the dad to the grandad. You want a generational shift.”

The source added: “The whole Farron apparatus or organisation that won him leadership elections and kept him where he was and won him presidential elections will pretty much swing behind Swinson.”

The only way for Mr Cable to secure the top job would be if Ms Swinson agreed to serve as his deputy and he guaranteed to step aside in the not too distant future, the source claimed.

Jo Swinson, the front-runner for the Liberal Democrat leadership
Jo Swinson, the front-runner for the Liberal Democrat leadership

Mr Farron has said he will continue in post until parliament goes into recess on July 20 with the leadership contest to take place over the summer and a replacement installed by the party’s September conference.

Whoever replaces Mr Farron will be charged with trying to break the Tory and Labour stranglehold on UK politics and make significant gains both in terms of vote share and MP numbers.

Another senior Lib Dem source said the new leader will need to reposition the party. They said: “I certainly think it needs a rebrand because I think there is an appetite for a centre ground party but the Lib Dems as it is won’t be that centre ground party if it doesn’t change. The election clearly demonstrates that it doesn’t have popular appeal as it is.”  

The Telegraph also understands that there is a feeling within the party that its call for a second referendum on the terms of the UK’s Brexit deal should be shelved amid calls for a cross-party approach to negotiations.

However, the party would likely revisit the prospect of a second vote if the deal done was unsatisfactory.

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