Commenting on the revelation that only 500 extra troops are being withdrawn from Iraq, Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell said:
“Any troop withdrawal from Iraq is welcome, but this is a cynical effort to manipulate the figures and make it look more significant than is really the case.
“In fact only 500 more troops will be pulled out of southern Iraq, since the withdrawal of the other 500 had already been announced.
“It still leaves 4,500 British troops trapped in Basra airport where they no longer serve any real military or political purpose.
“What we need is a clear timetable to withdraw all our forces to safety within six months.â€
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Resigned! Surely not!
You were one of the few politicians, and certainly the ONLY leader of a major party with any integrity. For the first time since the days of Paddy Ashdown (I, a traditional socialist) was actually considering voting Lib Dem.
Surely there is yet time for you to reconsider. OK . so you will noÃ¥t lead the Lib Dems to an overall electoral victory but you could certainly put a dent in the side of the two ‘major’ parties and, who knows, could even hold the balance of power in the next government – stranger things have happened in political history. But, please, don’t consign yourself to that relatively minor page in the political history book of British politics and politicians before you have fought the good fight l
You will be sorely missed as an advocate of reasoned, balanced governance with an emphasis on real social justice and environmental awareness.
Don’t go – you will be sorely missed and I, for one, will not even consider giving the Lib Dems my vote in the absence of your wise leadership.
It is a mistake to believe that a party needs a ‘young’ leader to win electoral victory – an assumption created, and over-hyped, by the media. Let’s face it, most young people don’t vote – they have no real concept of political realities. It is the older generation, especially those who were involved in, or at least remember, the Second World War and the its privations, along with those of the 1950s, then reaped the harvest of the 1960s and beyond, who should form a major part of your electoral base. Yes. sure, reaching younger generations is a vital part of any vibrant. future-looking, political party but just don’t forget the grey vote – the other parties definitely have. You had, still have, their confidence.And, older voters, by nature, still mistrust younger political leaders.
Anyway, why can’t the Lib Dems, preferably under your stalworth leadership, work on potential strengths in this and other areas. As a party you have become, in my opinion, the new evangelical socialists claiming the moral high ground New Labour can never regain. It goes against the grain to admit it, but the Lib Dems have taken on the social reforming cloak long abandoned by a New Labour which, under Blair, was more akin to the Thatcherite ideal of a free market, global economy… and still is. They’ve had the chance to bring in an new 21st century society based on social justice and the redistribution of the nation’s still amazing wealth, redressing the inequalities under which we have suffered for far too long, but have abysmally failed to do so. The fact that the gap between the rich and poor in this country is worse now than it was under Thatcher and that young people have less opportunities – fueling social alienation and further reinforcing a burgeoning underclass – speaks volumes.
You could have presided over your vision of an egalitarian, just and caring society where privilege and meritocracy would have taken a back seat to opportunity and co-operative zeal.
Without you, I think the party will become a vestige of its potential corporal existence as a major player in our, now sad, political game. Politics (and democracy) in Britain with two centre right parties – let’s be honest about it – will have suffered possibly irreparable harm.
I am only sorry I did not make a similar plea to Paddy Ashdown. I and many other political pundits would attest that he could have led the Lib Dems to a subsequent electoral victory then, as I believe you could do now.
Stay and make the music – others will just be facing it – and I’ll join your band!
Very best regards whatever you, inevitably, decide.
Jim
I am very sorry that you felt you had no alternative but to resign. I am a labour voter for many years, but recognise your integrity and honesty. I have always had an eye towards the Liberal Democrats, policiies and personalities.
Politiics is too often a very dirty business. People with integrity and honesty should be appreciated and not undermined.
Your party has done you and your predecessor a massive disservice.
I am very sorry that you felt you had no alternative but to resign. I am a labour voter for many years, but recognise your integrity and honesty. I have always had an eye towards the Liberal Democrats, policiies and personalities.
Politiics is too often a very dirty business. People with integrity and honesty should be appreciated and not undermined.
Your party has done you and your predecessor a massive disservice.
It has come back that my comments have already been received/duplicated NO!!!!
Very sad that you feel you have to resign. Apparently, there is no room for a gentleman like yourself who dares to tell the truth.
You were one of the few politicians I took the time to listen to.
The Liberal Democrats have definitely gone down in my estimation.
God Bless.
I just wish to say how very sorry I am that Sir Menzies Campbell has resigned. He is a man of integrity whose experience gives him a wisdom lacking in younger politicians.
He is yet another victim of Press harassment. At the recent annual conference in Brighton there was no challenge for or dissatisfaction with the Lib/Dem leadership yet every day the Press maintained that there was. It must have been very difficult and frustrating for MIng to cope with all the attacks on him because of his age, deflecting his thoughts and ours from the real issues every time.
He will be much missed.
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