Brexit brings new role for Clegg

Mr Farron said there was “no-one better placed” than the Sheffield Hallam MP to hold the Government to account over Britain’s departure from the European Union.

Mr Clegg resigned as Lib Dem leader last year following the General Election and was not included in Mr Farron’s first shadow team despite the party having only eight MPs in what was seen as a deliberate attempt to draw a line under the coalition era.

The move means Mr Clegg will be shadowing another Yorkshire MP, David Davis, who was given the new joh of Brexit Secretary by Theresa May last week.

Prior to becoming an MP, Mr Clegg was an MEP and spent time working as a trade negotiator in the European Commission.

Mr Clegg said: “Theresa May says Brexit means Brexit but no one actually knows what that means.

“Will we be in the single market or cut off from it, with all the implications that has for British jobs and our economy? What does it mean for immigration? What about the Brits who live abroad and the Europeans who have made our country their home?

“How will we co-operate with our neighbours to tackle terrorism, cross-border crime and climate change?”

He added: “Whatever your views on Brexit, it is in everyone’s interest to make sure what happens next is debated openly and scrutinised properly.”

The Lib Dems are hoping to win support from the millions of voters who wanted to remain in the EU and remain confused by Labour’s stance on the issue.