NationStates Jolt Archive

Sir Menzies wins Lib Dem contest

Sir Menzies Campbell has been elected leader of the Liberal Democrat Party.

Sir Menzies, 64, who was Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman and acting leader, topped a ballot of party members after a five week campaign.

He beat economic affairs spokesman Chris Huhne in the final run off. Party President Simon Hughes came third.

Sir Menzies, who got 57% of the vote, said he was ready to take risks to "modernise" the party and lead it "back to government".

'Safe hands'

He said his victory was a "victory for all Liberal Democrats".

He said he wanted to "make a reality of three party politics" and he vowed to fight for fairness, freedom and environmental protection.

He said he was a "safe pair of hands" but he wanted to take risks and challenge the party's orthodoxy.

He wanted the Liberal Democrats to be the "party which pledges to take power from Westminster and Whitehall and give it back to the men and women in our own communities," he told activists.

Sir Menzies told BBC News 24 he had wanted to be Lib Dem leader "for quite a long time".

His first challenge as party leader will be to rally activists at the party's spring conference in Harrogate at the weekend.

'Good-tempered'

Both defeated candidates pledged their support to Sir Menzies.

Mr Huhne said the new leader had a "hard-won and decisive mandate to lead this party to new advances with the backing of all of us".

He said the "thoughtful and good-tempered contest" had shown the party was the most united in Britain around the key issues.

Party members had made "the right decision", he conceded.

"Collective wisdom is often so much greater than individual wisdom and Ming has undoubted authority, experience and credibility. "I look forward to being a part of his team taking us to greater success."

'Determined'

He told News 24 he did not regard Sir Menzies as a "caretaker" leader and that he could fight two general elections.

Mr Hughes, was eliminated in the first round of voting after coming third with 12,081, said: "I am absolutely clear that this party has a great future.

"I am absolutely clear that liberal democracy has a great future; and I am absolutely clear that we will go, Ming, under your leadership from strength to strength towards the government that Britain desperately needs and that we are all so unitedly determined to achieve."

Mr Hughes' votes were transferred to members' second choices for leader.

-BBC News


So What do those of you who care about this? Personally, I think the leadership contest was incredibly poorly fort, with hardly a mention of the candidates politcal views. Campbell certainly has the experience to be a good leader, but whether he will be able to increase the Lib Dems standing in Parliament remains to be seen.

Personally, as a person who has voted for the Lib Dems before (although not a commited supporter by any means), I think this is a massive step backwords.

Kennedy, although struggling with drink, was still a capable leader and, as we have seen, was holding things together. Once he went the whole of what the party had worked for has effectively been lost.

And whats the problem with him being an alcoholic? Churchill loved a little tipple and he did pretty well for us ;)

Personally, as a person who has voted for the Lib Dems before (although not a commited supporter by any means), I think this is a massive step backwords.

Kennedy, although struggling with drink, was still a capable leader and, as we have seen, was holding things together. Once he went the whole of what the party had worked for has effectively been lost.

And whats the problem with him being an alcoholic? Churchill loved a little tipple and he did pretty well for us ;)
quite. kennedy did a very good job driving the party forwards while he was pissed as a newt... now that he's off the booze just think what a great job he could have done :P
seriously, stupid lib dems... stupid frontbenchers... really silly thing to do, all this :(

that said "vowed to fight for fairness, freedom and environmental protection" sounds good to me. i voted for em before and i should think i will do again. its not like there's much better a choice out there, and at a time like this the party will need the support of its old-time supporters (ok i only voted for em once but you know what i mean). it will only be a 'step backwards' if lib dem voters don't do the right thing of supporting the party through this and take their votes elsewhere.

Personally, I haven't got a friggin clue who I will vote for next time, although as you said, they have a lot of policies I agree with so.

Labour failed to live up to the self created hype.

Tories, no, just no.

Charles Kennedy was too prone to making a fool of himself, so I'm glad Ming is now leader - I've seen him on Newsnight dozens of time and he always does brilliantly; he's always so knowledgable and Paxman never manages to catch him out.

Charles Kennedy was too prone to making a fool of himself, so I'm glad Ming is now leader - I've seen him on Newsnight dozens of time and he always does brilliantly; he's always so knowledgable and Paxman never manages to catch him out.

Maybe he is intelligent, but I've seen more interesting radiators.

Thats not something that puts me off personally, but it will effect him in an election.

Charles Kennedy was too prone to making a fool of himself, so I'm glad Ming is now leader - I've seen him on Newsnight dozens of time and he always does brilliantly; he's always so knowledgable and Paxman never manages to catch him out.
When, exactly, did he make a fool of himself? The only time I can remeber is when he couldn't to a tax calculation on a key policy...

Personally, I supported Kennedy, but the attack bby the other MPs was too viscious, he couldn't remain leader after that.

I will almost certainly be voting for Lib Dems when the election comes again next time, I might even stand for them (But I suspect my political views are a bit too extreme!) And in the local council elections in May I will probably vote for them then, but I havent been over impressed with the people standing for them this time around.

As a commited tory, and member of the Conservative Party, I think that Ming Cambell will have a great deal of trouble standing up to our leader (nearly twice his age). I am also not suprised that the election recieved nearly zero media and voter attention...despite the interesting sex scandels...is there any normal liberal democrat leadership contender, who isn't gay, obsessed with faeces, too old to think straight or fraudulent?

As a commited tory, and member of the Conservative Party, I think that Ming Cambell will have a great deal of trouble standing up to our leader (nearly twice his age). I am also not suprised that the election recieved nearly zero media and voter attention...despite the interesting sex scandels...is there any normal liberal democrat leadership contender, who isn't gay, obsessed with faeces, too old to think straight or fraudulent?
Your leader is a Carbon Copy of Tony Blair nine years ago, and there is very little difference between the two parties.

As a commited tory, and member of the Conservative Party, I think that Ming Cambell will have a great deal of trouble standing up to our leader (nearly twice his age). I am also not suprised that the election recieved nearly zero media and voter attention...despite the interesting sex scandels...is there any normal liberal democrat leadership contender, who isn't gay, obsessed with faeces, too old to think straight or fraudulent?

I find it absurd this new obsession with having to have "young" politicians. Why? Many past capable Prime Ministers have been quite old, look at Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee for example. I would have thought the experience of age would be valued more, but oh well.
Anyway, on the actual topic, I have to admit...the liberal democrats election has just been, well, kinda boring. I remember after the question time special, which I was only able to watch the first half of it was so boring, Andrew Neil the host of the This Week show afterwards said that it was "coma-inducing." I have to agree that the liberal democrats have yet to find a really inspiring leader. A shame considering the possible potential the party has.

Your leader is a Carbon Copy of Tony Blair nine years ago, and there is very little difference between the two parties.

Ouch! Truth hurts.