VINCE Cable has denied he is too old to be Liberal Democrat leader, after becoming the first contender to throw his hat into the ring to replace Tim Farron, who announced his resignation last week.

The 74-year-old returned to the House of Commons as MP for Twickenham in this month’s General Election, having been one of the highest-profile casualties of the party’s collapse in support in 2015.

Former energy secretary Sir Ed Davey and ex-health minister Norman Lamb have also indicated they are considering a bid for the leadership, but hotly tipped East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson, 37, ruled herself out and was yesterday elected unopposed as deputy leader.

Cable said he was ready to “work with like-minded people in other parties” to ensure voters get the final say on any Brexit deal, with the option to stay in the EU if the agreement on offer is not good enough. He described Brexit as an “iceberg” about to hit the UK economy and said the party should “warn of the dangers ahead and the need for a new course”.