Vince Cable vows to 'work with' rebel MPs as he claims 'real chance' of Labour breakaway

'I think when the Brexit issue is resolved one way or another, I think they will reconsider their position in the Labour Party'

Sir Vince Cable has promised the Liberal Democrats will “work with” rebel MPs as he claimed there is a “real chance” of a group of Labour MPs breaking away from the party.

The comments from the leader of the unashamedly pro-EU party follow claims that at least six disaffected MPs are preparing to quit Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party over key policy disagreements, including Brexit and immigration.

Speaking on Sunday, Sir Vince also suggested it was “very likely” he would lead his party into any early general election – despite outlining plans to resign as leader at his party’s autumn conference last year.

Appearing on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme, Sir Vince responded to reports in The Observer of Labour MPs who were considering leaving the party, but he said six MPs seemed “very much at the lower end of figures quoted to me”.

Asked if he had been approached, he said: “Yes, indeed, it’s well reported for months that there is actually a much bigger group of Labour MPs, not just six, who are deeply unhappy with [Jeremy] Corbyn’s leadership and don’t see any future [in the Labour Party].”

On discussions, he added: “There’s Conservatives as well, it’s not just the Labour Party. I think as of now they are basically working with us to stop Brexit, to try and get a people’s vote. There is a very strong group of people working as a team to try and deliver that.

“I think when the Brexit issue is resolved one way or another, I think they will reconsider their position in the Labour Party.

“I can’t predict exactly what will happen but I think there’s a real chance of a significant group breaking away and if that happens we will work with them in some form.”

Pressed on whether the Lib Dems would “effectively be subsumed” into another party, he added: “No, we’re not subsuming ourselves into anything, but I don’t know exactly what form this could take. It partly depends on the events of the next few weeks actually around Brexit.”

He added: “There are all kind of possibilities but I think where there are common values we will operate together.

“It’s very difficult to set up a new party under the first-past-the-post system, I think they recognise that and it will be sensible if we do have common values and common interests that we work together in some way, but that’s some way down the track.”