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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/07/vince-cable-step-down-lib-dem-leader-brexit-resolved-stopped
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Vince Cable to step down 'after Brexit is resolved or stopped' | Vince Cable to step down 'after Brexit is resolved or stopped' |
| (4 months later) | |
| Vince Cable has said he will step down as leader of the Liberal Democrats after Brexit is “resolved or stopped” in a speech outlining plans to allow non-MPs to stand to be his successor. | Vince Cable has said he will step down as leader of the Liberal Democrats after Brexit is “resolved or stopped” in a speech outlining plans to allow non-MPs to stand to be his successor. |
| Cable also said the party would allow people to join as supporters without paying fees as part of an effort to reinvigorate the Lib Dems as a moderate movement. | Cable also said the party would allow people to join as supporters without paying fees as part of an effort to reinvigorate the Lib Dems as a moderate movement. |
| On his own future, Cable said he wanted to lead the party through the Brexit process and into next May’s local election, and to begin the process of transforming the party. But he acknowledged that he would ultimately step aside. | On his own future, Cable said he wanted to lead the party through the Brexit process and into next May’s local election, and to begin the process of transforming the party. But he acknowledged that he would ultimately step aside. |
| “Reports of my imminent departure are wide of the mark and now is certainly not the time for an internal election,” he said. “There is serious work for our party to do. Once Brexit is resolved or stopped, that will be the time to conduct a leadership election under the new rules.” | “Reports of my imminent departure are wide of the mark and now is certainly not the time for an internal election,” he said. “There is serious work for our party to do. Once Brexit is resolved or stopped, that will be the time to conduct a leadership election under the new rules.” |
| In the speech at the National Liberal Club in Westminster, Cable said the party would welcome MPs or others fleeing what they saw as extremism in Labour or the Conservatives, but played down the idea of a new centrist grouping. | In the speech at the National Liberal Club in Westminster, Cable said the party would welcome MPs or others fleeing what they saw as extremism in Labour or the Conservatives, but played down the idea of a new centrist grouping. |
| The long-established coalition of Brexit-minded Conservative MPs – though it publishes no list of members – led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, and one of Theresa May’s main obstacles in parliament. | The long-established coalition of Brexit-minded Conservative MPs – though it publishes no list of members – led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, and one of Theresa May’s main obstacles in parliament. |
| Headed by the businessman Richard Tice, and newly joined by Nigel Farage, this group seeks a Brexit completely outside any single market, customs union or EU oversight. | Headed by the businessman Richard Tice, and newly joined by Nigel Farage, this group seeks a Brexit completely outside any single market, customs union or EU oversight. |
| The successor group to the official leave campaign, it is headed by Labour MP Gisela Stuart, and says it wants to see the referendum result “respected and delivered in full”. | The successor group to the official leave campaign, it is headed by Labour MP Gisela Stuart, and says it wants to see the referendum result “respected and delivered in full”. |
| A new group campaigning to sink May’s Chequers proposals, which claims the support of 20 Tory MPs, among them Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith. | A new group campaigning to sink May’s Chequers proposals, which claims the support of 20 Tory MPs, among them Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith. |
| The unofficial leave campaign, financed by Arron Banks, which faces scrutiny about its tactics and funding. These days mainly a Twitter feed that mixes Brexit news with far-right-friendly messages about immigrants and Islam. | The unofficial leave campaign, financed by Arron Banks, which faces scrutiny about its tactics and funding. These days mainly a Twitter feed that mixes Brexit news with far-right-friendly messages about immigrants and Islam. |
| Springing up in the wake of the referendum, this grouped MPs from various parties in pushing for a soft Brexit. It was supported by some Tories, such as Anna Soubry and Dominic Grieve, but they cut ties over a plan to oust hard Brexit-backing MPs. | Springing up in the wake of the referendum, this grouped MPs from various parties in pushing for a soft Brexit. It was supported by some Tories, such as Anna Soubry and Dominic Grieve, but they cut ties over a plan to oust hard Brexit-backing MPs. |
| A later arrival, chaired by the former Labour minister Mark Malloch-Brown, this is more directly opposed to Brexit itself, and has received funding from the billionaire George Soros. | A later arrival, chaired by the former Labour minister Mark Malloch-Brown, this is more directly opposed to Brexit itself, and has received funding from the billionaire George Soros. |
| Part of Open Britain, this group calls for a referendum on the final Brexit deal. | Part of Open Britain, this group calls for a referendum on the final Brexit deal. |
| A long-established pro-EU group with sections across Europe, this has had a lower-profile role in the Brexit aftermath. Chaired by ex-Conservative cabinet minister Stephen Dorrell. | A long-established pro-EU group with sections across Europe, this has had a lower-profile role in the Brexit aftermath. Chaired by ex-Conservative cabinet minister Stephen Dorrell. |
| Set up by and seeking to represent young people, the group organises protests, and is probably best known for its eloquent spokesman Femi Oluwole. | Set up by and seeking to represent young people, the group organises protests, and is probably best known for its eloquent spokesman Femi Oluwole. |
| Going by the handy acronym of FFS, this is a student-based group seeking to block Brexit. | Going by the handy acronym of FFS, this is a student-based group seeking to block Brexit. |
| A self-explanatorily named niche pressure group with a heavyweight set of scientific backers. | A self-explanatorily named niche pressure group with a heavyweight set of scientific backers. |
| The Lib Dems were “open to working together with those who share our values”, Cable said. He added: “But by opening up our party, I hope to convince those who agitate for a new force that there is already a strong movement for open, centrist, and internationalist politics: it is the Liberal Democrats.” | The Lib Dems were “open to working together with those who share our values”, Cable said. He added: “But by opening up our party, I hope to convince those who agitate for a new force that there is already a strong movement for open, centrist, and internationalist politics: it is the Liberal Democrats.” |
| Cable outlined three changes he hopes to introduce as soon as possible to broaden the party, which is stagnating in the polls, into what he called a “movement for moderates”, based around the more populist principles of organisations such as the Jeremy Corbyn-supporting Momentum. | Cable outlined three changes he hopes to introduce as soon as possible to broaden the party, which is stagnating in the polls, into what he called a “movement for moderates”, based around the more populist principles of organisations such as the Jeremy Corbyn-supporting Momentum. |
| The new class of supporters will be able to join for free with the power to vote in leadership elections and “shape the party’s campaigning online”. | The new class of supporters will be able to join for free with the power to vote in leadership elections and “shape the party’s campaigning online”. |
| Cable said his party was unlikely to be at risk of infiltration from extreme entryists: “We have to be careful but we cannot be afraid of opening windows lest a few flies get in. In any case, the Liberal Democrats are different.” | Cable said his party was unlikely to be at risk of infiltration from extreme entryists: “We have to be careful but we cannot be afraid of opening windows lest a few flies get in. In any case, the Liberal Democrats are different.” |
| Non-MP members who had been vetted and approved by the party would be able to stand in the next leadership contest after he stepped down, Cable said. | Non-MP members who had been vetted and approved by the party would be able to stand in the next leadership contest after he stepped down, Cable said. |
| Asked after his speech how this would work in practice, Cable said that the candidate would most likely ultimately need to seek to become an MP. “Certainly if the person is to become prime minister that has to happen, and one of things that is part of our consultation is how we manage that process.” | Asked after his speech how this would work in practice, Cable said that the candidate would most likely ultimately need to seek to become an MP. “Certainly if the person is to become prime minister that has to happen, and one of things that is part of our consultation is how we manage that process.” |
| The third change would allow new members to stand for parliament immediately, rather than having to wait for 12 months, as is currently the case. | The third change would allow new members to stand for parliament immediately, rather than having to wait for 12 months, as is currently the case. |
| While saying the Lib Dems would welcome disaffected Tories and Labour members who shared their values, Cable dismissed the idea of joining in some new form of centrist party, saying this did not seem viable. | While saying the Lib Dems would welcome disaffected Tories and Labour members who shared their values, Cable dismissed the idea of joining in some new form of centrist party, saying this did not seem viable. |
| “There is a certain naivety, actually, about the first past the post system and the barriers that it creates,” he said. “I think it’s very important to realise that we’re in a much stronger position, we have a strong base. The idea that you find dozens of candidates and spend a lot of money – that’s not a recipe for success.” | “There is a certain naivety, actually, about the first past the post system and the barriers that it creates,” he said. “I think it’s very important to realise that we’re in a much stronger position, we have a strong base. The idea that you find dozens of candidates and spend a lot of money – that’s not a recipe for success.” |
| The Lib Dems, Cable said, could provide “a rallying point for those who are committed to defend liberal democracy” at a time when it faced what he called its gravest threat since the 1930s. | The Lib Dems, Cable said, could provide “a rallying point for those who are committed to defend liberal democracy” at a time when it faced what he called its gravest threat since the 1930s. |
| “Liberal democracy itself is under threat notably in the USA, in eastern Europe and perhaps here,” he said. “Authoritarians and extremists of both right and left are on the march and are coordinating their tactics and propaganda: an illiberal international.” | “Liberal democracy itself is under threat notably in the USA, in eastern Europe and perhaps here,” he said. “Authoritarians and extremists of both right and left are on the march and are coordinating their tactics and propaganda: an illiberal international.” |
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