Lib Dem leadership race: Who is standing to be the next Lib Dem leader?

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT leader Vince Cable announced he would be resigning from his role in May this year, and now two candidates are facing off to be his replacement. Who is standing to be the next Lib Dem leader?

14:12, Tue, Jun 25, 2019 | UPDATED: 18:37, Tue, Jun 25, 2019

Brexit: Vince Cable confirms talks with other MPs

Sir Vince Cable has led the Liberal Democrats for just under two years, and in May announced he would be standing down from his role. He had previously stated his intention to step down before the next general election. On May 24, the day after the UK took to the polls in the European elections, the Liberal Democrat leadership election formally began.

Who is standing to be the next Lib Dem leader?

There are two candidates in the Lib Dem leadership race, Ed Davey and Jo Swinson.

Ed Davey

Ed Davey is MP for Kingston and Surbiton, and has been between 1997 and 2015 and then again from 2017.

He is also Home Affairs Spokesman and has been since 2017.

Lib Dem leadership race

Lib Dem leadership race: Vince Cable announced his resignation in May (Image: GETTY)

He was previously Energy Secretary between 2012 and 2015, and Foreign Affairs spokesman from 2007 - 2012.

Mr Davey is endorsed by several peers, MEPs and former MPs, including William Wallace, Caroline Voaden and Chris Davies.

Sir Ed Davey, 53, attended private independent Nottingham High School in the year above Ed Balls.

He was first elected into the House of Commons in 1997 when he defeated Richard Tracey, the sitting Conservative MP for the former constituency of Surbiton.

Jo Swinson

Jo Swinson is MP for East Dumbartonshire, and was from 2005 until 2015 and then again from 2017.

She is also Deputy Leader and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, and has been since 2017.

Ms Swinson is also endorsed by several MPs, Peers and MEPs including Olly Grender, Sheila Ritchie and Peter Taylor.

Ms Swinson, 39, attended the London School of Economics, where she studied Management, gaining a first class Bachelor of Science degree in 2000.

Lib Dem leadership race

Lib Dem leadership race: Ed Davey is one of two MPs standing to replace Vince Cable (Image: GETTY)

She was elected to the House of Commons as the MP for East Dunbartonshire at the 2005 general election.

She defeated John Lyons of Labour by 4,061 votes, and was the first ever Member of Parliament born in the 1980s

There were several MPs who were discussed as potential leadership candidates but declined to stand.

These were

Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wellington
Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland
Christine Jardine, MP for Edinburgh West
Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk
Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon

Lib Dem leadership race

Lib Dem leadership race: Jo Swinson is the second MP standing in the race (Image: GETTY)

Lib Dem leadership race

Lib Dem leadership race: Sir Vince Cable said he would leave before another general election (Image: GETTY)

Liberal Democrat leadership elections use the alternative vote or instant runoff system, with all party members entitled to vote.

Nominations closed on June 7, and to qualify MPs had to have the backing of at least 10 percent of the Parliamentary party - the equivalent of one other MP - and be supported by at least 200 members spread across at least 20 different local parties.

Party members will vote via postal or electronic ballots which will be issued on June 28 and July 1 respectively.

The votes will close on July 23 and the new leader will be announced that evening.