Liberal Democrats pledge to keep Britain in the EU after next election

The Liberal Democrats will stand at the next general election on a platform of derailing Brexit and keeping Britain in the European Union, the party has announced.

Leader Tim Farron said on Saturday night that he would be “clear and unequivocal” with voters that if elected it would set aside the referendum result and keep Britain in the EU.

He said the referendum result amounted to a “howl of anger” at politicians and that the election of a liberal government would be a way of registering a change of heart by the electorate

Though the next general election is scheduled for 2020 under the Fixed Term Parliament Act (FTPA), David Cameron’s resignation and major loopholes in the legislation mean it could come as early as the autumn or early next year.

A successor to Mr Cameron is planned to be in place by Conservative Party conference in October and it is expected that whoever is chosen will immediately come under pressure to call an early election.

This is possible under the FTPA if a simple majority of MPs vote no confidence in their own government and an alternative government cannot be formed within 14 days. Alternatively, a two-thirds majority of MPs can call an election with a vote.

“For many millions of people, this was not just a vote about Europe. It was a howl of anger at politicians and institutions who they felt they were out of touch and had let them down,” Mr Farron said.

“The British people deserve the chance not to be stuck with the appalling consequences of a Leave campaign that stoked that anger with the lies of Farage, Johnson and Gove.

“The Liberal Democrats will fight the next election on a clear and unequivocal promise to restore British prosperity and role in the world, with the United Kingdom in the European Union, not out. If you agree with us, join us to make this happen.”

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said people would feel “betrayed” with the outcome of Brexit and suggested the result had been won on a false prospectus.

“In twenty four hours the cheap bus slogans of Farage, Johnson and Gove are unraveling,” he said.

“On £350 million for the NHS, on immigration, it is clear that they will fail to deliver what people thought they had voted for. Once again people will feel betrayed by out of touch politicians.

“The Liberal Democrats are the only party united behind a future for Britain inside the European Union.”

The striking policy to discount the referendum result is a gamble for the party, which hit a historic low of 7.8 per cent at the 2015 general election after a disastrous flirtation with the Conservatives in coalition.

That five-year period in government saw the party lose almost all of its seats painstakingly won by activists over decades, with just eight now remaining.

With the EU sure to be a key battleground in any early election, the policy may appeal to the nearly half of the voting population who voted to Remain. Over a million people have already signed an official petition to re-run the referendum, and scattered anecdotal reports on social media have shown some Leave voters already regretting their decisions.

Mr Farron, an MP from the centre-left of the party was elected to replace Nick Clegg as party chief in 2015, has previously suggested he would shy away from another formal coalition deal and lean towards confidence and supply arrangements with another party if confronted with a hung parliament.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will respect the result of the referendum, though his position has come under threat in recent weeks after hostile Labour MPs moved a no confidence motion against him.

Some voices inside that party have urged a rejection of the referendum, which is not legally binding. Tottenham MP David Lammy on Saturday called for Parliament to vote on whether Brexit should take place.

On Thursday night Britain voted to leave the European Union by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.