Sir Vince Cablehas compared Brexit to the war in Iraq and the financial crisis, in his fist key note speech as Liberal Democrat leader.

Despite insisting there is more to his party than opposing Brexit, Sir Vince said EU withdrawal ranked alongside "three great disasters" to hit Britain in recent years.

Speaking at the party's annual conference in Bournemouth, he said: "Anyone who doubts the relevance of the Liberal Democrats should reflect on the three great disasters perpetrated by the two main parties in recent years: the war in Iraq; the banking crisis; now Brexit."