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Acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said his party knows they “made mistakes” in the election campaign.
The party suffered a damaging night on December 12, which saw its leader Jo Swinson lose her seat to the Scottish National Party.
Following her resignation, Sir Ed became acting leader alongside Baroness Sal Brinton until the election of a new leader in the new year.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme on Thursday that the Lib Dems made mistakes, saying the Brexit issue “inevitably clouded out all the many things that we stand for”.
The party had fiercely campaigned to remain in the EU, pledging to revoke Article 50 if they were elected into power.
Sir Ed said: “The evidence we have from around the country, particularly in the seats we were fighting, was that people were voting for the Conservatives with a washing line of clothes pegs on their nose because they were opting to stop Corbyn rather than what they also wanted to stop, which was Brexit.”
General Election Night: December 2019 – In pictures
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory
Jeremy Selwyn
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn at the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon celebrates with supporters at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
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Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson reacts as she loses her East Dumbartonshire constituency, during the count at the Leisuredome, Bishopbriggs
PA
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after the results was given at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North constituency for the 2019 General Election
PA
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Boris Johnson press conference
Jeremy Selwyn
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Michael Gove
Jeremy Selwyn
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Dominic Cummings
Jeremy Selwyn
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn arriving for the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
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REUTERS
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Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
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Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves the Labour Party’s headquarters
Reuters
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A member of the counting staff yawns during the count at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
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Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster (C) reacts after learning that Deputy Leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) Nigel Dodds has lost his seat to Sinn Fein’s new MP for North Belfast John Finucane at the count centre in Belfast
AFP via Getty Images
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DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds reacts after losing his seat as Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane is declared the winner in the Belfast count centre
Getty Images
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A police officer breaks up a fight while Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell speaks at the vote declaration after retaining his seat
Getty Images
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Carla Lockhart of the DUP is elected as MP for Upper Bann at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt Co Londonderry as counting begins Westminster election
PA
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Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry meet after both retaining their Parliamentary seats following the count at Sobell leisure centre
Getty Images
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Liberal Democrats candidate for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine retains her seat at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
PA
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Sinn Fein’s John Finucane celebrates with party leader Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy leader Michelle O’Neill after winning in the Belfast North constituency at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast
PA
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A cat sits on the step of 10 Downing Street as Boris Johnson looks set to be returned there as Prime Minister after early Conservative gains in the General Election results
PA
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Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds arrive at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London
AFP via Getty Images
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Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg leaves, after winning the North East Somerset constituency, at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
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Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg’s wife Helena and son Peter watch the results of the North East Somerset constituency at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
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Supporters cheer as Green Party candidate Caroline Lucas is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at a counting centre
Reuters
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Conservative candidate Aaron Bell is declared the winner of the Newcastle-Under-Lyme seat
PA
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Michelle Dewberry, the former winner of The Apprentice and Brexit Party candidate for Hull West & Hessle, with former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan after she failed to win the Kingston upon Hull West & Hessle seat at the Guildhall in Hull in the 2019 General Election
PA
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Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
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Brexit Party candidate Richard Tice is seen after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain’s general election in Hartlepool
Reuters
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Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, pauses while speaking at the vote count in his Islington North constituency
Getty Images
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Conservative Party candidate Dominic Raab arrives at a counting centre in Esher
Reuters
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Labour Party candidate Sharon Hodgson is announced as the winner for the constituency of Washington and Sunderland West
Reuters
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Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
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Volunteers get counting IN bARNET after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
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Labour in conversation during the General Election count in Barnet
Nigel Howard
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General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
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The results of an exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
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Independent candidate Count Binface poses after arriving at a counting centre
Reuters
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The Labour Party’s Chi Onwurah after winning Newcastle Upon Tyne Central
PA
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The results of the exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
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Labour Party candidate Bridget Phillipson stands next to Brexit Party candidate Kevin Yuill after she was announced as the winner for the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland South
Reuters
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A member of the Monster Raving Loony Party arrives at a counting centre in Islington
Reuters
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General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
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Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Reuters
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Simmonds with their dog Dilyn
Jeremy Selwyn
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory
Jeremy Selwyn
2/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn at the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
3/45
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon celebrates with supporters at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
4/45
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson reacts as she loses her East Dumbartonshire constituency, during the count at the Leisuredome, Bishopbriggs
PA
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after the results was given at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North constituency for the 2019 General Election
PA
6/45
Boris Johnson press conference
Jeremy Selwyn
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Michael Gove
Jeremy Selwyn
8/45
Dominic Cummings
Jeremy Selwyn
9/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn arriving for the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
10/45
REUTERS
11/45
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
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Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves the Labour Party’s headquarters
Reuters
13/45
A member of the counting staff yawns during the count at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
14/45
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster (C) reacts after learning that Deputy Leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) Nigel Dodds has lost his seat to Sinn Fein’s new MP for North Belfast John Finucane at the count centre in Belfast
AFP via Getty Images
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DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds reacts after losing his seat as Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane is declared the winner in the Belfast count centre
Getty Images
16/45
A police officer breaks up a fight while Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell speaks at the vote declaration after retaining his seat
Getty Images
17/45
Carla Lockhart of the DUP is elected as MP for Upper Bann at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt Co Londonderry as counting begins Westminster election
PA
18/45
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry meet after both retaining their Parliamentary seats following the count at Sobell leisure centre
Getty Images
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Liberal Democrats candidate for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine retains her seat at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
PA
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Sinn Fein’s John Finucane celebrates with party leader Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy leader Michelle O’Neill after winning in the Belfast North constituency at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast
PA
21/45
A cat sits on the step of 10 Downing Street as Boris Johnson looks set to be returned there as Prime Minister after early Conservative gains in the General Election results
PA
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Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds arrive at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London
AFP via Getty Images
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Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg leaves, after winning the North East Somerset constituency, at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
24/45
Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg’s wife Helena and son Peter watch the results of the North East Somerset constituency at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
25/45
Supporters cheer as Green Party candidate Caroline Lucas is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at a counting centre
Reuters
26/45
Conservative candidate Aaron Bell is declared the winner of the Newcastle-Under-Lyme seat
PA
27/45
Michelle Dewberry, the former winner of The Apprentice and Brexit Party candidate for Hull West & Hessle, with former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan after she failed to win the Kingston upon Hull West & Hessle seat at the Guildhall in Hull in the 2019 General Election
PA
28/45
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
29/45
Brexit Party candidate Richard Tice is seen after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain’s general election in Hartlepool
Reuters
30/45
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, pauses while speaking at the vote count in his Islington North constituency
Getty Images
31/45
Conservative Party candidate Dominic Raab arrives at a counting centre in Esher
Reuters
32/45
Labour Party candidate Sharon Hodgson is announced as the winner for the constituency of Washington and Sunderland West
Reuters
33/45
Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
34/45
Volunteers get counting IN bARNET after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
35/45
Labour in conversation during the General Election count in Barnet
Nigel Howard
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General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
37/45
The results of an exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
38/45
Independent candidate Count Binface poses after arriving at a counting centre
Reuters
39/45
The Labour Party’s Chi Onwurah after winning Newcastle Upon Tyne Central
PA
40/45
The results of the exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
41/45
Labour Party candidate Bridget Phillipson stands next to Brexit Party candidate Kevin Yuill after she was announced as the winner for the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland South
Reuters
42/45
A member of the Monster Raving Loony Party arrives at a counting centre in Islington
Reuters
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General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
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Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Reuters
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Simmonds with their dog Dilyn
Jeremy Selwyn
Looking ahead to his party’s future, Sir Ed said: “I think we need to bring liberalism to life for people, by proving for example our passion for social justice.”
Asked if he would run for leader, he said: “I’ve got a job to do as acting leader, I’m going to do that.”
He added: “Let me help you: I’m not ruling it out.”
His comments come after new Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain said the party’s Brexit strategy was not successful.
Speaking on BBC Good Morning Scotland on Monday, Ms Chamberlain – who beat the SNP’s Stephen Gethins in North East Fife last week – said the party was still “pro-UK and pro-EU” despite failing to make gains.
She said the party were “unashamedly a Remain party” but their “straightforward” policy to revoke Brexit had not worked.
