UK

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron casts himself as heir to Tony Blair

Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron, centre, accompanied by party supporters, arrives to deliver his keynote speech on the final day of the Liberal Democrats autumn conference in Brighton Picture by Gareth Fuller, Press Association
Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron, centre, accompanied by party supporters, arrives to deliver his keynote speech on the final day of the Liberal Democrats autumn conference in Brighton Picture by Gareth Fuller, Press Association Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron, centre, accompanied by party supporters, arrives to deliver his keynote speech on the final day of the Liberal Democrats autumn conference in Brighton Picture by Gareth Fuller, Press Association

LIBERAL Democrat leader Tim Farron cast himself as the heir to Tony Blair as he insisted his party is the only one capable of depriving the Tories of a majority at the next election.

In a keynote party conference address, Mr Farron made a blatant pitch to attract Labour moderates unhappy with Jeremy Corbyn's leadership as he heaped praise on the highly controversial former prime minister.

Mr Farron also insisted the Lib Dems are ready to raise taxes to save the NHS and determined to reverse the rush to Brexit.

The Lib Dem leader told delegates: "Tony Blair's government gave us the national minimum wage. It gave us working tax credits. It gave us NHS investment and a massive school building programme.

"I disagree with him a lot, but I will not criticise him for those things. I admire him for those things.

"I kind of see Tony Blair the way I see The Stone Roses, I preferred his early work."

Mr Farron insisted Labour could not win seats from Theresa May's party at the next election, and it was only possible for the SNP to take the sole Conservative seat in Scotland, leaving the Lib Dems as the last bulwark against another Tory majority.

The Lib Dem leader said he wanted to emulate Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, who took his party from third place to power.

"Trudeau's Liberals leapt over an inadequate official opposition to defeat a right-wing Conservative government.

"There are dozens of Tory seats in our reach. Which means that the only thing standing between the Conservatives and a majority at the next election is the revival of the Liberal Democrats," Mr Farron said.

The Lib Dem leader insisted he would not be put off because the party had been "crushed" after being in coalition and reduced to just eight MPs, because he is a "great loser" capable of bouncing back after the Brexit referendum defeat.

"Those who say I'm a bad loser are quite wrong. I am a great loser. I have had loads of practice."

Describing the EU referendum result as being like a "bereavement", Mr Farron said that meeting with Leave voters made him realise that then chancellor George Osborne's warning of a harsh Budget if the country did not choose Remain backfired badly.

Mr Farron insisted on the need for a fresh referendum on the details of a Brexit deal as he demanded Mrs May finally spells out what she wants the terms of withdrawal to be.