Lib Dems may not appoint Jo Swinson’s permanent replacement as leader until the SUMMER as party chiefs consider delaying contest until after they finish a general election post-mortem and Labour has chosen Jeremy Corbyn’s successor
- Jo Swinson quit as party leader after losing her seat at the 2019 general election
- Sir Ed Davey now serving as acting leader while Lib Dems consider next move
- Lib Dem Board is meeting tomorrow to decide leadership contest timetable
- But sources said one of the options being considered would see contest delayed
The Liberal Democrats may not appoint a new permanent leader until the summer under plans being considered by party decision-makers.
The party’s federal board will meet tomorrow to decide on the timetable for the battle to replace Jo Swinson who was forced to quit after losing her seat at the election.
Party sources told MailOnline that ‘one of the options on the table’ is for the contest to be pushed back with a winner announced in the second half of the year.
Those in favour of a lengthy delay believe it would be a smart move for two reasons.
The first is that it would allow the Lib Dems to conduct and finish a review into why the party failed to gain any ground at the ballot box last month.
The second is that it would enable the party to see who Labour chooses to replace Jeremy Corbyn before making its own decision.
Jo Swinson was forced to quit as Lib Dem leader after she lost her seat at the general election
Senior Lib Dem figures believe it would wise to wait to see who takes over from Mr Corbyn on April 4 because they will then have a good idea of Labour’s direction heading towards the next general election.
This would allow the Lib Dems to determine their strategy for success in full knowledge of what they will be up against.
As well as the expected decision on the timetable for the leadership election, the federal board is also tomorrow due to set a deadline for the election review to be concluded.
One Lib Dem MP candidate who failed to get elected last month welcomed the idea of a delayed contest.
They said: ‘The leadership election should only happen after the general election review has concluded.
‘I want to hear the reaction of candidates to the conclusions and how they will be working to put things right for next time, particularly on how future key messaging is scrutinised and tested.
‘Ed Davey and Mark Pack [Lib Dem president] are more than capable of being co-leaders until the summer.’
However, a delayed contest could prove unpopular with some activists because it would likely leave the party without a permanent leader heading into crunch local elections in May.
It would also leave the party in a state of prolonged limbo at a time when many Lib Dems will want to kick start rebuilding efforts, especially with its spring conference due to take place in March.
The party finished the general election with just 11 MPs – down one on its performance in 2017.
The Lib Dems had hoped their pledge to cancel Brexit would lead to a surge in support from Remainers on December 12.
Sir Ed Davey, pictured in the House of Commons on Wednesday, is currently serving as acting leader of the Lib Dems
But that failed to materialise as the party’s miserable night was capped off by Ms Swinson losing her East Dunbartonshire seat to the SNP, forcing her to step down as Lib Dem leader.
Sir Ed Davey is now serving as the acting leader of the party and is widely expected to throw his hat in the ring when the contest does take place with Christine Jardine, Layla Moran and Daisy Cooper also tipped to run.
Lib Dem rules dictate that the leader of the party must be an MP which means its options are limited as to who will take over from Ms Swinson on a permanent basis.