Tim Farron



Timothy James Farron (born 27 May 1970) is a British politician and former Leader of the Liberal Democrats in post between July 2015 and July 2017. He announced his resignation on 14 June 2017 following the 2017 United Kingdom general election, remaining in his position until Sir Vince Cable was elected on 20 July 2017.

2015

 * If you think it is wrong to demonise immigrants, the young, the poor, foreigners, Brussels, the English, the Scots - join us.
 * Tim Farron: Helping migrants 'decent and in our interests' BBC News (17 September 2015)

2016

 * The EU offers our small businesses and tourism sector huge opportunities, I can't understand why anyone would want to shut those opportunities down
 * 'Huge' business and tourism opportunities from EU - Farron BBC News (25 February 2016)


 * Given that Europe is the world's biggest market, will we be more prosperous if we remain or leave? Given that this is a dangerous and uncertain world, are we safer and more secure by staying alongside our closest friends and neighbours? Or turning our backs on them? Given the scale of international challenges of a global economy, climate change and the refugee crisis - are we better to face these together or alone? ... The answers to each of those questions is a no brainer. If you want a Britain that is prosperous, secure, a Britain that matters then you are voting to keep Britain in Europe.
 * Scottish Lib Dem conference: Leader Tim Farron in staunch defence of EU BBC News (27 February 2016)


 * We should celebrate the positive future that is a European Union prepared to work together to tackle the great challenges facing the world
 * Scottish Lib Dem conference: Leader Tim Farron in staunch defence of EU BBC News (27 February 2016)


 * Leaving the EU would destroy young people's hopes of getting on the housing ladder
 * EU referendum: Vote Leave in housing appeal to young BBC News (2 June 2016)


 * Leaving would mean fewer jobs, higher prices and lower pay, making deposits harder or impossible to build up. And it means higher mortgage payments making first time loans less affordable. First time buyers are better off in Europe and leaving would be a leap in the dark leaving young people worse off
 * EU referendum: Vote Leave in housing appeal to young BBC News (2 June 2016)


 * This self-inflicted wound will be Cameron's legacy
 * EU referendum: Leave vote for most of Cumbria BBC News (24 June 2016)


 * For many millions of people, this was not just a vote about Europe. It was a howl of anger at politicians and institutions who they felt were out of touch and had let them down. The British people deserve the chance not to be stuck with the appalling consequences of a Leave campaign that stoked that anger with the lies of Farage, Johnson and Gove. The Liberal Democrats will fight the next election on a clear and unequivocal promise to restore British prosperity and [its] role in the world, with the United Kingdom in the European Union, not out.
 * Lib Dems pledge to fight for UK re-entry to EU BBC News (26 June 2016)


 * Given three-quarters of the young people of Britain voted to remain in Europe, they should be permitted, as far as possible, to remain in Europe
 * Brexit: Lib Dems' 10,000 new members after EU vote BBC News (29 June 2016)


 * The EU referendum result could be hijacked by forces of racism, intolerance and hate
 * Lib Dem leader warns of post-EU vote 'forces of racism' BBC News (31 August 2016)


 * Plenty of my mates voted Leave, and I can tell you that the majority of those who did vote Leave are utterly appalled that Farage, Le Pen and their ilk now seek to claim the result as a victory for their hateful brand of intolerance, racism and insularity. Britain is better than that.
 * Lib Dem leader warns of post-EU vote 'forces of racism' BBC News (31 August 2016)


 * People have been misled by lackadaisical politicians, playing games, who had campaigned for years to leave the EU - but hadn't bothered to come up with a plan about what to do if it actually happened
 * Lib Dem leader warns of post-EU vote 'forces of racism' BBC News (31 August 2016)


 * Voting for Britain's departure from the EU is not the same as voting for a destination
 * Tim Farron presses case for vote on any Brexit deal BBC News (7 September 2016)


 * It seems completely wrong for an unelected prime minister to enforce a deal on the British people that neither the 52%, nor the 48% voted for. You might be somebody who voted wanting there to be a points' based [immigration] system. What are you going to do if the government forces something on you that doesn't address that? Likewise on tariffs, likewise on a whole range of issues. It would be totally wrong, however you voted on 23 June, for this government to enforce on the British people a plan that nobody signed up to - that would undermine democracy massively.
 * Tim Farron presses case for vote on any Brexit deal BBC News (7 September 2016)


 * The Liberal Democrats have a plan. We know what we want and we know where we want to take our country. When Theresa May does agree a deal with the EU, we want the people to decide.
 * Tim Farron praises Blair as he targets Labour voters BBC News (20 September 2016)


 * If we trusted the people to vote for our departure then we must trust the people to vote for our destination.
 * Tim Farron praises Blair as he targets Labour voters BBC News (20 September 2016)


 * We discussed whether Article 50 can be revoked, and my conclusion is that if there is the political will, it would be possible to do so.
 * Tim Farron says Article 50 can be revoked BBC News (7 December 2016)

2017

 * Aggressive. Nationalistic. Anti-Nato. Anti-EU. It is the post-war internationalist consensus unravelling in real time. Winston Churchill's vision for a world that achieves peace through trade, common values and shared endeavour evaporating before our eyes.
 * Farron likens PM's politics to Trump's and Putin's BBC News (19 March 2017)


 * [Labour has] voted through a hard Brexit and chosen to be neither fish nor fowl on the biggest issue to face our country for a generation.
 * General Election 2017: Labour's 'day one' pledge to EU nationals BBC News (25 April 2017)


 * I'm somebody who challenges people in power - the EU, in government, in councils - but I am somebody who believes Britain is better off in the European Union.
 * Tim Farron says 'I'm a bit of a Eurosceptic' BBC News (30 April 2017)


 * You should have your say on the Brexit deal in a referendum. And if you don't like the deal you should be able to reject it and choose to remain in Europe.
 * General Election 2017: Lib Dems aim to keep Scots in UK and EU BBC News (17 May 2017)


 * I cannot imagine a deal that is better than the one we've got now.
 * No better EU deal than being a full member - Tim Farron BBC News (1 June 2017)


 * I do respect the outcome of the referendum and I, nevertheless, feel a sense of real concern that in this country if you stand by your principles, if you question whether Theresa May is making the right choices, and Jeremy Corbyn of course backed her in that, then you are dismissed as a saboteur or a Remoaner.
 * No better EU deal than being a full member - Tim Farron BBC News (1 June 2017)


 * This is an opportunity to stop May in her tracks in her zealous pursuit of a disastrous hard Brexit, to keep Britain in the single market, to have a decent opposition to stand up to a Conservative government moving from crisis to crisis
 * Who is Tim Farron? A profile of the ex-Liberal Democrat leader BBC News (14 June 2017)


 * I don't believe that gay sex is a sin
 * Who is Tim Farron? A profile of the ex-Liberal Democrat leader BBC News (14 June 2017)