LONDON, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Sir Vince Cable, the veteran politician who said Brexit was not inevitable, was named Thursday as the new leader of Britain's Liberal Democrat Party.
He was unopposed for the position of leading Britain's third political party following the resignation of Tim Farron.
Cable served in the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government as Business Secretary in David Cameron's Downing Street cabinet.
But in the 2015 general election, Cable was one of the majority of Liberal Democrat members of parliament to lose their seats. The party went from a group of over 50 strong to just nine MPs in the House of Commons.
Cable was beaten in 2015 by Conservative Tania Mathias who won the Twickenham parliament seat. In the June 8 snap election, Cable made his political comeback by regaining his seat in the same constituency when he beat Mathias by a majority of around 10,000.
The Lib Dems made modest gains, taking the number of their MPs to 12. In their election manifesto, the Lib Dems called for the people of Britain to be given a second referendum to decide on the deal negotiated as part of the country's exit from the European Union.
Cambridge-educated Cable, who is 74, has previously served as acting leader and deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats. He became the oldest leader in the party's history.
In his leadership manifesto, Cable said: "We are the only party that can represent the millions of liberal-minded people alarmed by the direction this country is taking: people, whether they voted remain or leave, who hate the intolerance, xenophobia and division that the Brexit vote unleashed."
On Brexit, Cable said: "It is imperative that the UK remains at the very heart of the EU, a member of the Single Market and the Customs Union. The opportunities and the prosperity this offers cannot be replaced. They are the bedrock on which we can build a better Britain.
Sal Brinton, who announced the decision said: "Vince Cable has been the leading candidate throughout and has been unanimously supported by our MPs and has had a strong backing from the wider party membership.
"As no other candidate has been nominated at the close of nominations, I am delighted to announce that Vince Cable is the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.
"With the significant challenges that our country faces, the need for the Liberal Democrats is bigger than ever and the election of Vince marks a new point."
Away from politics, Cable enjoys ballroom dancing and he has recently soon-to-be-published political novel about a post-Brexit future in Britain.
Cable was named leader after other potential contenders decided not to stand for the job.
