An old joke among political journalists is that you know a writer has run out of topics when they start producing columns either on their children or the Liberal Democrats. With so many other things going on, perhaps this is why Westminster has been oddly indifferent to the leadership contest taking place between Jo Swinson and Ed Davey over the past couple of months. We should have been paying more attention, as the winner may well have an important role to play in the political turmoil over the next few months.
Last night, the BBC held its hustings with the two candidates, and I was one of the journalists invited to ask questions. It’s had to put a cigarette paper between Swinson and Davey on their attitude towards Brexit, but when it comes to what they might do to stop Britain leaving the European Union, things get more interesting. The pair do not agree on the necessary compromises in order to reach that conclusion.
Both categorically ruled out a formal coalition with either of the main parties, but they disagreed on looser arrangements.
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