Lib Dem leader in fiery TV clash with Ed Balls over Brexit

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey refused to say whether he want the UK to rejoin the EU in a feisty TV clash with Ed Balls over Brexit. Sir Ed said he was pleased the presenter was reading the Lib Dems’ website – but said: “At the moment is not the issue, the issue is rebuilding trust with our European friends and neighbours.” The ITV presenter replied: “It says it on the website.” Asked again why the pledge was on the Lib Dem website, Sir Ed said Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was “hurting our economy”. I’m really clear – the Liberal Democrats want a closer relationship with our trading partners.” Mr Balls again pressure the party leader to say whether he wanted Britain to rejoin the EU and whether it would be in the Lib Dems’ manifesto, Sir Ed fired back: “I’m not writing the manifesto here and now.” GMB host Susannah Reid then asked the party leader three times: “Do you want to rejoin the EU or not?” Mr Davey: “The key issue today facing our country is not that … What I want to do is rebuild our relationships with Europe. Ed Davey and Keir Starmer haven’t ruled out coalition Former Lib Dem leader Vince Cable has said Sir Ed would demand electoral reform as the price for a coalition government if Labour fall short of a majority at the general election. Writing on Comment Central, Mr Cable said: “Ed Davey is right not to rule out a coalition with Labour but it is highly unlikely that the Lib Dems would go into such an arrangement this side of electoral reform being delivered.” The Brexit row comes as food sector bosses told The Independent that a new wave of red tape on EU imports could push up prices and see more shortages in the supermarkets.