Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse has bowed out of the Liberal Democrat leadership election and has offered to work with Layla Moran MP who is now in a two-horse race with MP Ed Daveyto decide who leads the party.
Wera Hobhouse told her supporters today:
“There is nothing more lonely or frustrating than feeling unheard. That is why I set out to build a party, and a country, where every single person has an equal opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or where they live.
“That means pulling our party firmly to the centre-left, rebuilding our local government base, securing a progressive alliance, and moving effort and resources to our regions. We cannot run as a London-centric party that lets our powerful regional voices go unheard and the Conservatives a free run.
“That continues to be what I believe in more than anything.
“I feel grateful for the energetic campaign that we built together, and I am proud that we asked the tough questions, dared to dream big and fought for what we believed in, the values we share and the vision we hold.
That is always the right thing to do but, if my supporters and I really believe in the need for a new direction, then we must accept when we are no longer the best vehicle to deliver that.
That is why I am withdrawing from the Liberal Democrat leadership election and, this afternoon, I have offered to work with Layla Moran on behalf of our party and her vision for the country.
I know this will be disappointing for those of you who joined our movement, but this leadership race is more important than any one candidate, and it is vital to the future of our country that we come together to defeat the Conservatives at the next general election.
And you might expect me to say this but a revitalised and united Liberal Democrat party is needed now, more than ever.”
Voting opens on July 30th and closes on August 26th.
