This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33545779
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Tim Farron is new Lib Dem leader | Tim Farron is new Lib Dem leader |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tim Farron is the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, the party has announced. | Tim Farron is the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, the party has announced. |
| The former party president beat Norman Lamb in the contest to replace Nick Clegg, with 56.5% of the votes cast. | |
| The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, whose victory was announced on Twitter, is to make his first public appearance as leader at a central London rally later. | |
| "Our job now is to turn millions of liberals throughout the UK into Liberal Democrats", he tweeted. | |
| Mr Lamb, a care minister in the coalition government, offered his congratulations, saying Mr Farron would make a "fantastic" leader who championed social justice. | |
| Mr Clegg tweeted: "It's a tough job but the best in politics. I know Tim will do us proud." | |
| The new leader's immediate task is to rebuild the Lib Dems after a disastrous general election that left the party with just eight MPs. | |
| Who is Tim Farron? | |
| The Tim Farron story | |
| Challenge facing the new Lib Dem leader | |
| The Lib Dems said 56% of members took part. A total of 33,897 votes were cast, with Mr Farron winning 19,137 of them. | |
| Mr Farron, 45, is popular with activists and was the bookies' favourite to replace Mr Clegg. | |
| But former leader Lord Ashdown and former deputy leader Vince Cable have recently criticised him. | |
| Party president Sal Brinton said: "Tim is a fantastic communicator and his energy, enthusiasm and passion will inspire and drive the Liberal Democrats back to winning ways." |