Ed Davey speaks after he was elected as the leader of the Liberal Democrats party, in London Thursday Aug. 27, 2020. The left-of-center Liberal Democrats' acting leader, Ed Davey, comfortably defeated challenger Layla Moran in a campaign that was mostly conducted online because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)LONDON Britains Liberal Democrats announced former Cabinet minister Ed Davey as the party's new leader Thursday, in hopes that he could turn its fortunes around after a series of poor election results. He is the Liberal Democrats fourth leader in five years. Last year, leader Jo Swinson stepped down after she lost her own seat to the Scottish National Party in the general election.

Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson has also been shut out of a November 19 debate that will be shown by UK broadcaster ITV. While both channels will show other debates with a broader range of candidates, the exclusion of the Liberal Democrats from the premier broadcasts means that Brits might not hear from parties opposed to Brexit. "The BBC decision to host a TV debate between two Brexiters is outrageous," the Liberal Democrats said Friday on Twitter. Corbyn's Labour Party wants to negotiate a new deal with Brussels, and then hold a referendum that would include the option for the United Kingdom to remain in the bloc. Following a dismal showing in the 2017 general election, the Liberal Democrats have rallied voters to their cause by promising to stop Brexit.