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Roundup: Britain's Liberal Democrats elect new party leader

Xinhua, July 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

The former party president of Britain's Liberal Democrats Tim Farron on Thursday became the party's new leader after winning a contest for the leadership.

Tim Farron, 45, received 56.5 percent of the votes and in second place his rival Norman Lamb received the backing of 43.5 percent, the party announced on its official website.

"Our job now is to turn millions of liberals throughout the UK into Liberal Democrats," Farron tweeted after winning the election.

The new leader, who has been a member of the British Parliament since 2005, held his first rally on Thursday evening, where he addressed hundreds of party activists for the first time as their leader.

Farron was born in northwest England's Lancashire and attended Newcastle University. He used to be Liberal Democrats' environment spokesperson before becoming the party's president in 2011.

The party's former leader Nick Clegg gave his endorsement to his successor, describing Farron as "a remarkable campaigner and a man of the utmost integrity and conviction."

"He is a natural communicator with a rare ability to inspire people and rally them to our cause. He knows how to win and I have no doubt he can pick the party up and get us fighting again," Clegg said.

"It has been a pleasure to serve alongside Tim in Parliament and a privilege to consider him a friend. I know he will be a brilliant leader and he will always have my support," he continued.

Clegg, who served as deputy prime minister in the coalition government from 2010 to 2015, resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats after the party suffered crushing defeat in the general election in May, where his party's seats were reduced from 56 to 8.

Liberal Democrat Party President Sal Brinton also offered his support to the new leader, saying that Farron's energy, enthusiasm and passion will "inspire and drive the Liberal Democrats back to winning ways." Endit