Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ming Campbell today called on Gordon Brown to end the damaging speculation over when he will call a general election.

He said:

“It’s time to stop dithering, Mr Brown, and call an election now.

“The continuous speculation is bad for the economy, bad for the political process and bad for public confidence in the Government.

“This unnecessary and destabilising guessing game is the most powerful argument yet for fixed-term four year Parliaments, an idea which the Labour party enthusiastically backed in 1992.

“The Liberal Democrats are ready and waiting for a general election as soon as possible so that the British people can have their say on a Brown government.

“We welcome the chance to put our own radical and progressive policies to the electorate.”

At their party conference last week, the Liberal Democrats backed calls for fixed-term Parliaments as part of wide-ranging reform of the way Britain is governed.

Ahead of his Party Conference, which begins tomorrow, Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell, has called for the public to be given a real choice on the European Union.

Ming said:

“It’s time for the political parties to end the shadow boxing on Europe and enter into an honest debate about the European Union.

“We will not know the final shape of the European Reform Treaty until later this year and that is the right time to make the judgement as to whether the changes it proposes necessitate a referendum. My own view is that in its present form the substantial differences between the draft Treaty and the old constitution mean that a referendum is not required.

“But I am not prepared to allow David Cameron to lead the Europhobes and their allies in sections of the media, to distort the debate on Europe without challenge.

“Fifteen years ago Liberal Democrats demanded a referendum on the Maastricht treaty which established the European Union, but the Conservative government refused it.

“Today David Cameron tries to pose as a champion of the people but in truth he wishes to restrict the British people to a choice on a narrow question about a treaty of far less significance.

“I don’t intend to let him get away with offering us such a false debate and such a false choice.

“If there is to be a referendum it shouldn’t be restricted to a comparatively minor treaty. It must be a decision about the EU as a whole.

“Let’s have an honest debate on the European Union followed by a real choice for the British people. That means a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU. We would ask the British people the big question - whether to remain in the European Union or not.

“I will lead the Liberal Democrats at the forefront of that debate.

“We will make the overwhelming case for Europe and trust the people to make the right choice.”

Commenting on General Petraeus’s testimony to Congress, Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell said:

“This report changes nothing from the standpoint of the United Kingdom.

“There is no case for the continuing open-ended commitment of British forces.

“Nor does General Petraeus provide any help to the British Government in answering the two fundamental questions – what military purpose is being achieved and what political objectives are being met by our continued presence in Iraq.

“I repeat my call for a framework for phased withdrawal of all British forces.”

Speaking ahead of evidence to be given to the United States Congress today by General David Petraeus, Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell has accused the British Government of closing down debate about the continuing British military presence in Iraq. He said:

“While the strategy followed in Iraq by the United States has been under constant review by the Iraq Study Group, by both houses of Congress, and now General Petraeus, the British Government has failed to show the same openness.

“Rather than promoting debate regarding our future role, it has been closing it down. The Government has still not explained what military purpose or political objectives are being served by our presence.

“The continuing deployment in Iraq does not justify the unacceptable level of British causalities.

“Our future role in Iraq should be put at the top of the political agenda.”

Commenting on the MoD announcement today that Britain’s military deployment in southern Iraq is to be cut by 500, Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell said:

“This reduction is not unexpected. But the Government has still failed to answer the two fundamental questions about our continuing deployment in southern Iraq. What military purpose is being served and what political objectives are being achieved?

“Nearly a year ago, Britain’s most senior soldier Sir Richard Dannatt questioned our continuing role in Iraq. Nothing that has happened since has undermined either his analysis that we are exacerbating the security situation or his conclusion that we should leave soon.

“500 troops is a start, but it’s a long way short of the total withdrawal which is necessary.”