Sir Davey wins Lib Dem leadership bid

Sir Ed Davey announced as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The acting leader won the leadership race with 63.5% of the vote beating fellow MP Layla Moran who only secured 36.5% in the largest balloted contest in the history of the party.

The result of the new leadership contest comes eight months after the former leader, Jo Swinson, stepped down after the loss of her seat in the 2019 general election.

After three general election failures, Sir Davey said that the party needed to become "relevant again" by showing "people we share their values and are on their side".

He stated that on a national level, the party had lost touch with its voters. "It's time for us to start listening," he said in a speech.

Sir Davey has been part of the Liberal Democrats for 30 years, and will now guide the 11 MPs currently in Westminster and the broader membership of the party.

He became an MP in 1997 but lost his seat in 2015 due to his role in the cabinet during the coalition. Since then he gained his Kingston and Surbiton seat back in Parliament during the snap election of 2017.