Government planning for a no-deal Brexit is like “planning to burn your house down”, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson will claim in her party conference speech.
The East Dunbartonshire MP will declare herself a “candidate for prime minister” and attack the “tired old parties” of Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson.
In her maiden conference speech as Lib Dem leader, having replaced Sir Vince Cable at the top of the party in July, Ms Swinson will tell members in Bournemouth they are “building something special”.
Along with former Tory minister Sam Gyimah joining their ranks at an opening night rally – boosting their number of MPs to 18 – the Lib Dems have also been able to boast their south coast gathering has been their highest attended party conference since 2012.
In her leader’s speech on Tuesday afternoon, Ms Swinson is expected to say: “Let’s keep going. Let’s keep growing.
“The tired old parties have failed. Looking inward at a time of national crisis. Our country needs us, at this precarious time.
“We do not have 10 or 15 years. We need to seize the opportunity now.”
Telling party members there is “no limit to my ambition for our party”, Ms Swinson will add: “Today I am standing here as your candidate for prime minister.”
On the government’s “Operation Yellowhammer” preparations for leaving the EU without a deal, Ms Swinson will say: “The truth is you can’t plan for no-deal.
“Planning for no-deal is like planning to burn your house down. You might have insurance, but you’re still going to lose all your stuff.”
The former coalition government minister will claim the prime minister is “doing a pretty good impression” of “socialist dictators”, following Mr Johnson’s suspension of parliament and expulsion of 21 Conservative MPs who voted against him on Brexit.
She will say: “There is even now the suggestion that he would break the law and refuse to ask for an extension to Article 50.
“Silencing critics. Purging opponents. Ignoring the law.
“For someone who proclaims to hate socialist dictators, he’s doing a pretty good impression of one.”
The former coalition government minister will claim the prime minister is “doing a pretty good impression” of “socialist dictators”, following Mr Johnson’s suspension of parliament and expulsion of 21 Conservative MPs who voted against him on Brexit.
She will say: “There is even now the suggestion that he would break the law and refuse to ask for an extension to Article 50.
“Silencing critics. Purging opponents. Ignoring the law.
“For someone who proclaims to hate socialist dictators, he’s doing a pretty good impression of one.”
And Ms Swinson will also turn her fire on Labour leader Mr Corbyn, as well as the Brexit Party’s Nigel Farage.
“When the general election comes, I cannot wait to take on the collective forces of nationalism and populism that will be standing on that debate stage,” she will say.
“Johnson. Farage. And Corbyn.”
In a further assault on the Labour leader, Ms Swinson will add: “Even now, when faced with all the clear and obvious dangers that Brexit brings, Jeremy Corbyn still insists that if Labour win a general election, they will negotiate their own Brexit deal to take us out of the EU.
“Nigel Farage might be Brexit by name, but it is very clear that Jeremy Corbyn is Brexit by nature.”
This week’s Lib Dem conference has seen party members support Ms Swinson’s call for them to campaign at the next general election with a promise to revoke Article 50 if they form a majority government.
The party had previously supported cancelling Brexit, but via a majority vote for Remain at a second referendum.
“We are crystal clear: a Liberal Democrat majority government will revoke Article 50 on day one,” Ms Swinson will say.
“Because there is no Brexit that will be good for our country.”
Responding to Ms Swinson’s expected conference speech, Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly said: “The Liberal Democrats’ extreme policy on Brexit is neither liberal nor democratic.
“The Lib Dems are determined to cancel the largest democratic vote in British history without so much as a whimper.
“It’s shocking that a party which was once such a keen advocate for a referendum is now so eager to trample over democracy.”
Written by BayRadio
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