Lib Dem Wera Hobhouse urges party to 'let go of the coalition' in leadership pitch

A Lib Dem leadership contender has urged the party to "let go of the coalition."

Wera Hobhouse insisted the party are not a halfway point between the Tories and Labour.

"We are a progressive, centre-left party, and we must fight from there," she said.

If she takes the party leadership, Ms Hobhouse has pledged to "break from the coalition years" - which saw the party lose 49 MPs and thousands of councillors across the country.

She told the Mirror: "It’s not to say that the coalition was all bad – equal marriage and pupil premium are just two of the many life-changing ideas implemented by Lib Dems – but some serious mistakes were made. We have acknowledged that – now it is time to well and truly move on."

(PA)

She said: “The Liberal Democrats are not halfway between the Conservatives and Labour. We are a progressive, centre-left party, and we must fight for our values and beliefs from there."

Ms Hobhouse is up against interim leader Sir Ed Davey, who was energy minister in the coalition government, and Layla Moran for the Party's top job.

She added: "We need a new direction; we must let go of the coalition and aspirations to return.

"We must get back to our liberal roots, serving our local communities, which is what we have always done best.

“That’s where I will take the Liberal Democrats as leader.”