Senior Lib Dem Sir Alan Beith backs Farron for leader

Senior Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith has today joined a growing number of people who have endorsed Tim Farron's bid to become the next Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Sir Alan was the Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed from 1973 until 2015. Until May 2015 he was the longest-serving Liberal Democrat in Parliament. He has also been the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and also chaired the Justice Select Committee and the influential Liaison Select Committee that questions the Prime Minister.

It comes a few days after over a hundred Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates, who stood at the recent General Election, released a letter in The Guardian also backing Farron.

Sir Alan Beith said: "Tim Farron has the right qualities and skills to be a very effective and inspiring leader of the Liberal Democrats, building on the big increase in party membership since polling day and reinvigorating the activists who worked so hard but saw their efforts overwhelmed by the politics of fear in the last days of the campaign. Liberal values are vital to the future of civilised life in the nations and regions which make up the United Kingdom and Tim will campaign for those values."

Tim Farron added: "Sir Alan is amongst our parties most recognisable and trust statesman and I feel very honoured to have his backing.

"I am trying to reach out throughout the party in my positive campaign to rebuild our party."