Vince Cable says he was wrong to miss the customs bill vote

Sir Vince Cable was discussing the creation of a new centre-ground party at a secret dinner when he should have been attending a crucial Commons vote on Brexit legislation, The Sunday Times can reveal.

The Liberal Democrat leader was criticised for missing last week’s crunch vote on the customs bill, which the government won by just three votes.

Cable said it was the “wrong call” to miss the vote in order for him to attend a “confidential political meeting somewhere else”.

Now it has emerged that Cable was attending a dinner to discuss the prospects for a new anti-Brexit party.

Sources close to the Lib Dem leader said the private dinner he attended last Monday was with people linked to the new movement.

“Sir Vince