Vince Cable I can lead Lib Dems back to power

Sir Vince Cable has said he can lead the Liberal Democrats back to power by offering a mix of "hope and realism".

In his first conference speech as leader, he said he was "impatient for success" and had the vision and "grown-up" approach to "fill a huge gap in the centre of British politics".

He called for higher taxes on foreign property speculators and second home owners to help tackle inequality.

And he claimed Brexit would be an act of "masochism", leaving the UK poorer.

He said his party must not be solely defined by their opposition to Brexit - but he repeated his call for the public to have the final say on whether the UK actually leaves or not through a further referendum.

But the party - which increased its MPs from eight to 12 in June, but saw its vote share go down - had paid a "very high political price".

On tuition fees, he said levels of student debt were a source of "real concern" and the party was ready to consider all options to improve the current system, including a graduate tax, in a wide-ranging review.

Barriers to young people getting on the housing ladder must be removed, he said, with councils being able to borrow to build affordable homes and private sector investment in new garden cities.

Calling for a bigger programme of investment in the railways, broadband and other infrastructure, to be funded by government borrowing, he said his party would be both pro-enterprise and pro-worker, prepared to stand up to tech giants over corporate tax avoidance.

It was becoming ever clearer that the UK's exit from the EU was a "looming disaster" which could leave the UK poorer and weaker, he told party activists.

"And that pain will mainly be felt by young people who overwhelmingly voted to Remain."

"We have to put aside tribal differences and work alongside like-minded people to keep the single market and customs union, essential for trade and jobs."

Questions

What did Vince Cable say about Brexit?

How many seats do the liberal democrats have in the House of Commons?

What did he say about tuition fees and young people getting on the housing ladder?

What does he mean when he says the liberal democrats will be “pro enterprise and pro worker?