Jo Swinson has been elected leader of the Liberal Democrats.
The former business minister beat rival Sir Ed Davey in the race to take control of the pro-Remain party.
The MP, who is the first-ever millennial leader of the party, will replace the incumbent Sir Vince Cable, who announced his decision to step down earlier this year.
The Lib Dems have 12 MPs – bolstered by ex-Labour and Change UK MP Chuka Umunna’s decision to join them last month.
And they came second in May’s European Parliament elections, winning 20% of the vote.
I love this party – and honestly if you’d told me when I first joined at the age of 17 that I’d one day get the chance to write you this message, as the party’s new leader, I’d never have believed you.
The first thing I want to do is say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in this election, and especially to my good friend Ed Davey.
Over the last seven weeks Ed has shown the country what an outstanding politician he is; energetic, passionate and thoughtful. We’ve debated and challenged each other in the way the contest deserved, but always in a spirit of friendship and unity. The contrast with the Conservative party couldn’t be starker.
I also want to pay tribute to Vince Cable, whose leadership has put us in an exciting position to have a real impact on British politics.
And I want to pay tribute to all of you, who not only have challenged and tested us over the course of the contest, but whose hard work has ensured the party I’m now so proud to lead is looking at a much brighter future than many predicted just six months ago, ready to take on the challenges ahead.
The first of those is, of course, stopping Brexit. And as your new leader, it’s the task that is absolutely at the top of my agenda.
When I say Bollocks to Brexit I mean it. This isn’t a normal political issue – this is about the fundamental direction of our country for generations to Brexit, in any form, is a disaster for our country and we’ll do everything in our power to stop it.
