Liberal Democrat’s Jo Swinson tells Sheffield crowd a pact with Labour is more likely if Jeremy Corbyn quits

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has signalled the party would be more open to an accord with Labour in a hung parliament if Jeremy Corbyn stood down after the election.
By Reporter
Published 8th Dec 2019, 20:41 GMT
Updated 8th Dec 2019, 20:42 GMT
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Ms Swinson, who was out campaigning in Sheffield today (Sunday, December 8) has insisted the Lib Dems would not put either Mr Corbyn or Boris Johnson into Downing Street in the event of no party securing a Commons majority in the General Election on December 12.

But asked about how she would react if Mr Corbyn quit as Labour leader after the poll result, Ms Swinson told the PA news agency: "Obviously we don't know who the personalities would be in that circumstance, but we will obviously take a view on that depending on what circumstance we find ourselves in.

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"I have been working with people from the Labour Party, and people from the Conservative Party, and the SNP, and Plaid Cymru, and the Green Party to try and stop Brexit and try and secure a people's vote so that we can remain in the EU.

Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson canvassing door to door with parliamentary candidates Hannah Kitching and Colin Ross during a visit to Sheffield, while on the General Election campaign trail.Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson canvassing door to door with parliamentary candidates Hannah Kitching and Colin Ross during a visit to Sheffield, while on the General Election campaign trail.
Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson canvassing door to door with parliamentary candidates Hannah Kitching and Colin Ross during a visit to Sheffield, while on the General Election campaign trail.

"I've been doing that for the last couple of years and I will certainly be continuing to do that.

"Obviously, Jeremy Corbyn... is completely unfit to be prime minister, as is Boris Johnson for a whole host of different reasons.

"And so, if Labour are in a situation where they consider that Jeremy Corbyn is no longer fit to lead them, then we will of course look to keep working with people to try and secure a people's vote."

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Asked what the "naughtiest" thing she had done was, Ms Swinson told PA: "I did smoke a fair bit of cannabis while I was at university.

The Lib Dem campaign bus lands in Crosspool.The Lib Dem campaign bus lands in Crosspool.
The Lib Dem campaign bus lands in Crosspool.

"I don't know whether that counts as particularly naughty, but your readers and viewers will be able to make up their own mind on that."

Pressed to define a "fair bit" of cannabis, Ms Swinson said: "It wasn't just one, and I did inhale."

Related topics:Jeremy CorbynLabourSheffieldLiberal DemocratBoris JohnsonBrexitDowning Street