This morning, Ming Campbell met with leading Liberal Democrat bloggers in Brighton, giving them the chance to question him on a variety of issues.

The five bloggers are all shortlisted for the party’s Blog of the Year Award, which will be awarded at a ceremony this evening.

Ming answered questions on a wide range of topics, including Europe, the party’s key messages for general election and his first eighteen months as leader.

Clockwise from left: Alex Wilcock, Jonathan Calder, Ming, Mark Webster who chaired the session, James Graham, Richard Flowers and Paul Walter.

Speaking to the Welsh Liberal Democrats conference, Ming Campbell said:

It is a pleasure to be here in Wales this weekend.

And as the Six Nations clash between Scotland and Wales is now a full month ago, I feel relieved to be here today rather than on 10th February.
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Conference, this is the third time I’ve spoken at this rostrum in 36 hours.

You really get your money’s worth out of me.

So, let me be clear.

This is the last time that I will be addressing you as Leader of the Liberal Democrats;

While Tony Blair is Prime Minister.

And after him, the whole game changes.

As I pledged to you in that debate yesterday.

That great debate.

A debate that no other party could have held.

A debate which showed the Liberal Democrats at their best.

As I pledged to you, I will not sit on the fence.

I will not sit on my hands.

I will continue to lead from the front.

I know no other way.

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Following the vote on the future of Britain’s nuclear deterrent at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference, the party has voted to cut Britain’s nuclear arsenal by half and kick-start disarmament talks.

Responding to this decision Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell said:

I am proud to lead a party that is capable of having such a mature, responsible yet passionate debate.

I am pleased that the Liberal Democrats have taken this progressive move to cut our nuclear arsenal by half and kick-start disarmament talks.

The international situation with regards to proliferation is fluid and dangerous. While Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, Britain should maintain a minimum deterrent.

Tony Blair’s premature decision to replace Trident is more about his legacy than the national interest. The Liberal Democrats will not support this move in Parliament.

I shall lead all Liberal Democrat MPs into the No Lobby on the 14th March in the House of Commons to oppose the Government.

The policy passed by our conference today is progressive, responsible and rational.

At the Liberal Democrat “We Can Cut Crime” rally, Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell highlighted that over 51 million crimes have been reported in this country since Labour came to power.

Ming Campbell said:

Tony Blair’s legacy on law and order is one of tough talk, and spectacular failure.

Effective criminal justice should deter crime and reform the criminal. But the reality is that Labour has failed on both counts.

Shockingly, we live in a country where less than one in every hundred crimes committed leads to a court conviction. Just one in every hundred.

And just as bad, we live in a country where eight out of ten teenage boys reoffend within two years of release.

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