Jeremy Corbyn is never going to be Prime Minister because he can’t even lead his own party, the Liberal Democrats have said.

Responding to Jeremy Corbyn’s speech today, Liberal Democrat Shadow First Secretary of State Alistair Carmichael said: “Jeremy Corbyn is never going to be Prime Minister. He can’t lead his own party, let alone our country. The more people see him, the less they want to vote for him.

“That is not just my view. It is the view of the 172 Labour MPs who just last year said they had no confidence in his leadership.

“That’s why senior Labour figures such as Bob Marshall-Andrews are defecting to the Liberal Democrats.

“Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour has waved the white flag on Brexit, is failing as an opposition and has given Theresa May a blank cheque to pursue a divisive Hard Brexit. They are hopelessly divided, have no plan for the economy and are clearly unfit for government.

“This is your chance to change the direction of our country. If you want to avoid a disastrous Hard Brexit, if you want to keep Britain in the Single Market, if you want Britain to have a decent opposition – vote Liberal Democrat.

“The Liberal Democrats are the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit Government and the only party fighting for a Britain that is open, tolerant and united.”

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has called out Theresa May for refusing to take part in televised debates as ITV announced they will go ahead with a leaders’ debate.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions today, Tim Farron said: “This election can change the direction of our country. From the consequences of potential hard Brexit outside the Single Market to the future of our NHS and social care, schools and environment.

“The British people deserve to hear party leaders set out their plans and debate them publicly. But the Prime Minister has refused to take part in televised leaders’ debates.

“The Prime Minister and I, back in 1992, debated publicly, forcibly and amicably when we were both candidates together.

“Indeed, the Prime Minister called out the then incumbent who did not show up for some of those debates.

“Why will she not publicly debate these issues now – what is she scared of?”

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrats’ European Union spokesperson, has confirmed he will be standing again in Sheffield Hallam.

In a statement Mr Clegg said: “Theresa May has called a General Election out of opportunism and intolerance: opportunism in seeking to exploit the weakness of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party; and intolerance in seeking a landslide majority to bring about ‘unity’, by which she means the ability to impose whatever interpretation of Brexit she wishes without meaningful scrutiny from Parliament.

“Meanwhile, her Brexit-obsessed Government is failing to provide the decent schools, hospitals and social care which communities, including those I represent in Sheffield, rightly deserve.

“This General Election once again places the interests of the Conservative Party ahead of the daily needs of the British people.

“I will be re-standing as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate in Sheffield Hallam – a constituency I have had the immense privilege to represent in Parliament for twelve years – because I vehemently oppose the direction that Theresa May wishes to drag our wonderful country.

“When I was Leader of the Lib Dems, our key task was to provide responsible Government; today, our key task is to provide effective opposition and lead the fight against the Conservative’s damaging approach to Brexit.

“My constituents, and millions of people across the country, deserve a better choice than Theresa May’s hard Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn’s hapless leadership.”