Vince Cable defends slogan: ‘It’s honest … it’s what a lot of people think’

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable today defended the party’s brash “Bollocks to Brexit” slogan on its European elections manifesto.

The former business secretary admitted some may be offended, as the slogan was described online as “coarse” and a “desperate” bid for the youth vote.

But Sir Vince, who turns 76 today, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “There’s something called humour.

“Maybe as a country we have lost our sense of humour but it is an attempt to put in a more pungent way what a lot of people think.

Sir Vince said the slogan was ‘humour’ (PA)

“It’s honest [though] there are wallflowers who get offended. Other people will think these guys are straightforward about what they believe.”

The party was launching its manifesto for the elections today in Shoreditch. It has one MEP, Catherine Bearder, and is hoping to increase this after success at the local elections. Sir Vince said it was the strongest Remain party.

It is calling for Europe to adopt a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050, an emergency £7.5 billion support fund for those affected by Brexit uncertainty, and the extensions of rights for EU citizens in the UK.