Tim Farron is leader of the Liberal Democrats, the most pro-European party, and represents the greatest hope for Brexit adversaries who wish for the U.K. to retain strong ties with the EU.
The party suffered a fall from grace under a 2010 coalition with the Conservatives, however, and despite a recent surge in membership following May’s election announcement Tuesday, they will face an uphill battle to increase their current nine seats.
Farron has already pledged to reverse May’s planned hard Brexit and fight to retain Britain’s membership of the single market and open border policy.
“The public will have a very clear choice,” Farron wrote in The Independent Tuesday. “If it wants to keep Britain in the single market, and keep a Britain that is open, tolerant and united, this is its chance.”
Like Labour, the Lib Dems will also seek to redistribute wealth by increasing taxes for the wealthy while regaining support from younger voters lost during its previous term in government.
However, senior Lib Dem party members ruled out a potential post-election coalition with Labour Wednesday, arguing that a partnership with Corbyn would be “toxic”.
