Liberal Democrats heading for disaster, says Oakeshott

The Liberal Democrats are "heading for disaster" in next year's election if they keep party leader Nick Clegg in place, a leading party figure, who was forced to resign, has said.

Lord Matthew Oakeshott commissioned, and then leaked to the Guardian, details of a poll that predicted Mr Clegg would lose his Commons seat in Sheffield, and other long-held seats. He also showed the polling results to business secretary Vince Cable, who is being considered by some in the party as a possible replacement for Mr Clegg.

Lord Oakeshott said the founding members of the party had wanted “a radical progressive party, not a ‘split the difference’ centre party” with “no roots, no principles and no values”.

“But that is where Nick Clegg has led us,” said the wealthy peer, who has been a thorn in the side of the deputy prime minister since the Liberal Democrats entered coalition with the Conservatives in May 2010.