Jo Swinson warned that the country faces the “fight of our lives, for the heart and soul of Britain” in her first conference speech as Liberal Democrat leader today.
She declared herself a candidate for Prime Minister and said the next few weeks will be about “deciding the kind of country we are and who we want to be”.
Ms Swinson added: “Whether we tackle our biggest challenges with our closest allies or on our own. Whether we welcome those who want to build a better life in our country or shut the door on them. Whether we ensure every single person has the opportunities they deserve.”
Speaking at the end of the party’s conference in Bournemouth, she added: “People across Britain deserve a better choice than an entitled Etonian or a Seventies socialist.” During the speech she also said a no-deal Brexit was like “burning your house down”.
She pledged that a Lib Dem government would revoke Article 50 on “day one” after members voted overwhelmingly to cancel Brexit earlier in the conference. She added: “Brexit will put lives at risk.” However, one of the party’s most senior MPs, Sir Norman Lamb, yesterday warned the party was “playing with fire” by voting to revoke Article 50.
Former Labour MP Chuka Umunna, now the Lib Dems’ shadow foreign secretary, told BBC Breakfast today he would not “rule out” winning enough seats to become a majority party at the next election.
He added: “I think there is something very big going on in British politics.”
Sam Gyimah, a former Tory minister, told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “Brexit is not working for the country. At this critical time the Liberal Democrats are the only ones offering clarity on our Brexit position.”
The Lib Dems said they had seen their highest number of members at conference since 2012.
The party’s latest recruits, including Mr Gyimah, former Labour MP Luciana Berger and ex-Tory MP Sarah Wollaston spent the night partying at the Glee Club.
Today it was also revealed a former Met Police chief inspector George Lee will run in Westminster North after leaving the Conservative Party.
