Sir Vince Cable speech: 'Boris is a danger, I feel sorry for May and Jeremy Corbyn must fight Brexit or go'

Sir Vince Cable address crowds at a party conference in Brighton
PA
Jacob Jarvis18 September 2018
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Sir Vince Cable staunchly stood by his view that Britain is better off in the European Union and took aim at Brexiteers in a wide-ranging speech to the Liberal Democrats conference on Tuesday.

He described Boris Johnson as a “danger to Britain”, before comparing him to President Donald Trump in an uncomplimentary fashion, and also spoke of his pity for Theresa May as she tries to navigate Brexit.

In other slants at political rivals, he said that Labour members should “wave goodbye” to Jeremy Corbyn should he not back a people’s vote on Brexit or vow to fight it altogether.

The Liberal Democrat party leader, addressing a crowd in Brighton, categorised those supporting Brexit as “true believers”, “chancers” and “conscripts”.

Vince Cable said people are starting to "feel sorry" for the Prime Minister
EPA

In addressing the “true believers”, who he also referred to as “fundamentalists”, he said their “erotic spasm” for leaving the European Union had led them to be cavalier in regards to Brexit’s potential pitfalls.

Sir Cable, who was mocked for his pronunciation of the briefed “erotic spasm” phrase, said: “For the true believers, the fundamentalists, the costs of Brexit have always been irrelevant.

“Years of economic pain justified by the ‘exotic spasm’ of leaving the European Union. Economic pain felt, of course, not by them but by those least able to afford it."

Vince Cable called Boris Johnson, who he described as a "true believer" in Brexit, a "danger to Britain"
Getty Images

After this, he went on to criticise Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg’s recent comments on the potential fate of European immigrants and also criticised Eurosceptic former foreign secretary Boris Johnson.

On Mr Johnson and environment secretary Michael Gove, he claimed he felt the pair saw Brexit as an opportunity to take a quick route “to the top of the Conservative Party”.

He described Mr Gove as a perfect penalty taker because, in his words, “right until the last moment you never know which way he is going to go”.

On Mr Johnson, he said: “Boris Johnson is a real danger to Britain.”

He said that as well as resembling Donald Trump physically he added that “he becomes more like him every day”, citing what he called his “disregard of the truth” and treatment of women as factors.

After this, he went on to comment on Theresa May and said: “Some of us are beginning to feel sorry for the Prime Minister.

“She is failing in negotiations, losing public support, and it’s all to appease a dwindling group of people in her own party who will denounced her as a failure whatever she comes up with.”

He said that she could show more leadership by taking Brexit negotiations in a different direction which he feels would benefit the public more than Conservative politicians.

Then, he shared views on the Labour party leader, stating: “If Jeremy Corbyn will not say, ‘I will support a people’s vote and I will fight Brexit,’ Labour members should wave him goodbye.”

He said other issues surrounding the Labour party, such as the furore around anti-semitism and other contentions, should not distract from Mr Corbyn’s actions on Brexit.

Vince cable said Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn should stand up to Brexit or his party members should "wave him goodbye"
PA

After this, he went on to outlay how the public perception of the European Union required work to see it as positive, and expressed his views that he could understand why it was not.

Addressing issues around immigration and racist accusations at Eurosceptic voters he said that to call “all Brexit voters is simply wrong and completely counter-productive”.

He shared his visions on a liberal voice helping to reform the European Union, with his desire for the UK to stay in it, and also his desire for more “fairness and opportunity” to be created by government at home.

Tax dodgers would be tackled by the Lib Dems, he said, “outdated” business rates would be scrapped and education would be a focus for the party.

Ending his speech, he said: “If you demand a better future, this is your chance.

“Our movement is your movement.

“It’s an open movement with an open leadership.

“Join it, shape it, build it. Because together we can and we will win.”

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