Jo Swinson has insisted she does not regret the Liberal Democrats’ election campaign, despite losing her own seat on a disappointing night for the party.

The Lib Dem leader admitted her party’s staunch opposition to Brexit “hasn’t worked” but said she did not “regret trying”.

The Liberal Democrats won just 11 seats – one fewer than in 2017.

Ms Swinson saw her Dunbartonshire East seat captured by the SNP by a margin of just 149 votes.

Other party stalwarts such as Tom Brake also missed out, while recent defectors Sam Gyimah, Luciana Berger and Chuka Umunna failed in their bids to be re-elected

Speaking in central London in the aftermath of the election result, Ms Swinson said: “I’m proud in this election to have fought for what we – and millions of people – believe is the best future for our country: remaining in the European Union.

Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Show all 10 1 /10 Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Dennis Skinner - Labour Labour MP of 49 years Dennis Skinner lost his Bolsover seat to Conservative Mark Fletcher, losing 16% of the vote share PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Jo Swinson - Liberal Democrat Leader of the Liberal Democrats lost her Dunbartonshire East seat in a 6.8% swing to the SNP PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Anna Soubry - The Independent Group for Change Leader of The Independent Group for Change, formerly Conservative MP, Anna Soubry lost her Broxtowe seat, coming third behind the winning Conservatives and Labour PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Dominic Grieve - Independent Prominent Remain-backing MP Grieve lost the contest for Beaconsfield, coming second to the Conservatives, his former party AFP/Getty Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Luciana Berger - Liberal Democrat Luciana Berger lost the contest for Finchley and Golders Green, coming second to Conservative Mike Freer PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Laura Pidcock - Labour Prominent Corbyn ally Laura Pidcock lost her Durham North West seat to Conservative Richard Holden PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Chukka Umunna - Liberal Democrat Prominent anti-Brexit MP Chukka Umunna lost the contest for the Cities of London & Westminster, coming second to Conservative Nickie Aiken Getty Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Zac Goldsmith - Conservative Former candidate for Mayor of London Zac Goldsmith lost his Richmond Park seat to Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney PA Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Nigel Dodds - DUP Former leader of the DUP Nigel Dodds lost his Belfast North seat to Sinn Fein AFP/Getty Big beasts lose their seats: Prominent MPs gone after election Gareth Snell - Labour Labour MP Gareth Snell lost his Stoke-on-Trent central seat to the Conservatives PA

“When 19 Labour MPs helped pass Johnson’s Brexit deal in the House of Commons, it was clear we had to act. We forced Johnson to request an extension to Article 50, but without Labour’s support couldn’t assemble a majority for a People’s Vote, leaving a general election as the only chance to remain in the EU.”

She continued: “So I did not shirk the debates and the phone-ins, I turned up to the interviews, and I stood up proudly for our beliefs. I’m proud that Liberal Democrats have been the unapologetic voice of Remain in this election, giving people the chance to choose to stop Brexit.

“Obviously it hasn’t worked. And I, like you, am devastated about that. But I don’t regret trying – trying everything. Because the prize was to save our future, our children’s future, in Europe, where we can work together to tackle the climate emergency, trade freely to boost our living standards, and be a strong beacon for human rights around the world.”

Ms Swinson said she was “so sorry” that she had not been able to help Ms Berger, Mr Umunna and Mr Gyimah win their election races.

However, she defended her party’s campaign and insisted that she had been “true to myself”.

She said: “We have been true to ourselves, and true to our liberal values. And as your leader I have been true to myself too, as a Scot, a Brit, a European, as a liberal, a humanist, a feminist, as a daughter, sister, wife, and a mum to two small kids.

“Being myself, whether people attacked my vision or my voice, my ideas or my earrings. One of the realities of smashing glass ceilings is that a lot of broken glass comes down on your head.”

The Liberal Democrats announced on Friday morning that Sir Ed Davey, the party’s Treasury spokesperson, and Sal Brinton, the party president, would take temporary charge until a leadership contest is held in the new year.

Baroness Brinton said: “I want to thank Jo Swinson for her honest and fearless leadership of the Liberal Democrats.

“In this election, we gained more votes than in 2017 and we have been joined by many new MPs.