Tim Farron elected leader of Liberal Democrats: Watch his first speech in full

Video: The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale beat Norman Lamb by 56.5 per cent to 43.5 per cent

Tim Farron has been elected as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, replacing Nick Clegg following his resignation after the party's disastrous showing at the 2015 general election.

Mr Farron said his job now was to "turn millions of liberals throughout the UK into Liberal Democrats" after the party lost all but eight of its 57 Commons seats after being in government with the Conservatives for the previous five years.

Mr Farron decisively won the battle to become leader by defeating Norman Lamb. The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale beat the former health minister by 56.5 per cent to 43.5 per cent – a narrower margin than most in the party had predicted.

Mr Farron told supporters at a rally in north London: "Revival is in our grasp. Have hope. Have courage. Have belief.

"We start our plan for the 2020 election right now. And the fightback will begin well beyond Westminster.

"That comeback starts right now, right here, it starts with us."