The Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron has accused Theresa May’s of making no effort during the EU referendum campaign despite being one of the few politicians who might have been able to prevent the vote for Brexit.

In an interview with the Guardian to mark a year as Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron attacked the prime minister, suggesting that she had put her personal ambitions above the needs of the country:

“She was pro-remain but I tell you what, compared to her Jeremy Corbyn pulled a shift. She did nothing. And one of the reasons we are in this mess is that too many people who could have switched people’s votes didn’t put their head above the parapet.”

Farron said that May, who was home secretary, was seen by remain campaigners as an authoritative figure who could have been persuasive on immigration.

“Theresa May could have made a very, very big difference and she chose not to. The Tories have stumbled into this mess because of a combination of incompetence, ideological obsession and people thinking of their own narrow careers rather than the country,” he said.

Farron revealed that Liberal Democrat policy would now not only offer a referendum on the Brexit deal when it is hammered out, but also promise that on the ballot would be the option of “remaining in the EU”.

But he insisted the position was not about disrespecting the outcome of the referendum.

“Any MP who talks about frustrating the will of the electorate by blocking Brexit in the House of Commons – that would be wrong … we shouldn’t be sticking two fingers up at the people, that would be a disgrace,” he said…

“Calling for an immediate second referendum because you don’t like the result of the first, I can understand the temptation, [but] that is wrong.”

But he argued while the 52% had voted clearly against something, they had not been given anything to vote for, pointing out that Britain’s relationship with the EU could be modelled on a large number of possibilities “ranging from Norway, to North Korea, and all the points in between”.