16 Jul 2015

Tim Farron elected as new Liberal Democrat leader

The Liberal Democrats appoint Tim Farron as their new leader, replacing Nick Clegg who quit after the party’s electoral collapse in May.

The former councilor will attempt to resuscitate his party after the traumatic election loss in May following five years in coaltion government with the Conservatives.

The former party chairman beat off competition from former care minister Norman Lamb.

Seen as the left-leaning candidate most in touch with the grass roots of the party, the Westmorland and Lonsdale MP has said he wants to focus on rebuilding the party from the bottom up.

He says his priorities are human rights, the environment and building a fair and even society.

Popular with activists

The 45-year-old father of four is popular with activists for his invigorating performances at party conferences, but has been less popular with the Lib Dem leadership and was not given a ministerial position in the coalition.

Tim Farron was among nine Lib Dem MPs who abstained during a gay marriage vote during the last parliament, despite previously voting for same-sex marriage legislation.

However, he has since said he supports equal marriage and “will fight very hard against any attempts to water it down”.

After a post-election surge in membership, over 60,000 Lib Dem members were eligible to vote.

Danny Alexander, the former Lib Dem chief secretary to the Treasury, who lost his seat in May, urged the winning candidate to occupy the centre-ground, a tacit endorsement of Mr Lamb. He warned the new leader not to become a “sort of soggy Syriza in sandals” – a reference to Greece‘s anti-austerity government.