Welcome

Welcome to the archive of Ming Campbell's leadership campaign website.

Thank you to everyone who voted and who took part in the Liberal Democrats leadership election.

A particular thank you to those whose votes ensured this result.

The challenge now for all of us is to lead this party back towards government at the next election.

Today is not a victory for me; it is a victory for all Liberal Democrats.

You can find Ming's current website here »

Read Ming's address to the party following his election in full »

Read about Ming's vision for Britain »

Latest news

I am going to ensure that Liberal Democrats are the party of ideas and inspiration for Britain.

Ming Campbell celebrates his election as leader of the Liberal Democrats (Photo by Alex Folkes / LDDPics)
March 2, 2006: Ming Campbell’s address following the announcement of the result of the Liberal Democrats leadership election:

Thank you Mr Returning Officer and all of your staff and all the counting staff for all their hard work in ensuring an efficient count.

Thank you to everyone who voted and who took part in this election.

A particular thank you to those whose votes ensured this result.

The challenge now for all of us is to lead this party back towards government at the next election.

Today is not a victory for me; it is a victory for all Liberal Democrats.

Once again in these last few weeks we have confounded our critics and the commentators, all of whom wrote us off. Yet thousands of people in Dunfermline and West Fife elected Willie Rennie as the 63rd Liberal Democrat MP.

A victory in Labour’s heartlands and a victory which bursts the bubble of Cameron’s Conservatives.

A victory that points the way to a contest against those twin forces of conservatism.

A victory which underlined the remarkable legacy we have from Charles Kennedy.

Now let me say a few words to my opponents in the Leadership election.

To Simon let me say, I never cease to admire your tireless efforts to promote the cause of liberal democracy. I look forward to continuing that work together with you as a valued friend and campaigning President of our party.

To Chris let me say, you are a formidable asset for our party and will be a big part of our future. I look forward to working with you and the others of the brightest and best generation in politics to develop and strengthen our party.

Let me tell you how I am going to lead the Liberal Democrats.

I am going to modernise our party so as to make a reality of three party politics in Britain.

I am going to ensure that it is the Liberal Democrats who are the party of ideas and inspiration for Britain.

I am going to encourage the brightest and the best from every walk of life and every part of the country, women and men of every class and creed, every background and religion, to join in making Britain a better country.

I am going to lead the party to crusade against poverty – the poverty of income and the poverty of aspiration. Fairness and freedom are the inalienable right of every citizen.

I am going to ensure the party champions environmental protection, through radical tax policies and global effort. We have a duty to pass on a world fit for our children and grand-children.

I am going to make the Liberal Democrats the party of democratic revolution – combating the un-elected quango State, the unaccountable power of central government and the secrecy which still pervades too much of Britain.

I am going to make the Liberal Democrats the party which looks beyond our shores, which recognises that prosperity, security and sustainability are all dependent on using our influence to shape and participate in effective international action.

I am going to make the Liberal Democrats the party which wants to take power from Westminster and Whitehall and give it to men and women in their own communities to determine how they run their schools, hospitals, police and transport.

Leadership will mean tough questions and difficult answers, as we embrace the opportunities created by the new political landscape.

But the prizes can be the most exciting for liberals and progressives in 100 years.

We have the brightest political generation in our ranks.

Who would not relish the chance to lead in these circumstances?

Who would not relish the task of taking on both Labour and the Conservatives?

The task is to build a strong, effective, powerful Liberal Democrat party with the objective of ensuring a greener, fairer, decentralised and democratic Britain at peace with itself at home and admired abroad.

Thank you

March 1, 2006: As the poll closed for the Liberal Democrat leadership election, Ming Campbell issued the following message:

I want to thank everyone who has voted in the leadership election and the very many people who attended hustings up and down Britain over these past two months. I want to thank my superb team for their tireless efforts to support my campaign.

This is the third time that Liberal Democrat members have voted to elect a party leader.

I would be proud to follow Paddy Ashdown and Charles Kennedy and I would relish the chance to champion the great cause of liberalism in debate against Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

That decision is one for Liberal Democrat members. Whatever the outcome tomorrow I look forward to campaigning alongside Simon Hughes and Chris Huhne in the weeks, months and years ahead to put the Liberal Democrat case to the country.

Our real fight is not against each other, it is a fight to promote the great cause of Liberal Democracy, a fight for a better Britain.

February 23, 2005: Ming Campbell’s address to the London Hustings

As my good friend and constituency neighbour Willie Rennie MP has observed, this party seems to do pretty well without a leader.

Perhaps your journey tonight has been unnecessary.

Perhaps we could soldier on as we are, leaderless but regularly trouncing our opponents at by-elections.

Let it be clear tonight, whichever of Simon, Chris or I win – our real fight is not against each other, it is a fight to promote the great cause of Liberal Democracy, a fight for a better Britain.

We need unity certainly. But we also need clarity.

I know what I stand for and I’m determined that the country knows too.

A fair, green, democratic, decentralised Britain with an ethical foreign policy.

Values, beliefs, policies that chime with the vast majority of people in Britain.

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Ming Campbell talks to Nicola Davies and Liz Barker (video)

Ming Campbell talks to Nicola Davies and Liz Barker about the women who have influenced him in his life and about his desire to see a more representative House of Commons:

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Read the transcript of Ming’s discussion with Nicola Davies and Liz Barker »

Guantanamo Bay must close: It is time for the Prime Minister to take action and to demand the closure of the camp.

Sir Menzies Campbell MP, today called for the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities to be closed, and the detainees to be released without delay or swiftly brought to trial. His demand follows the publication of a UN report on conditions in the camp.

Sir Menzies has written a letter today to the Prime Minister in which he calls on him to press the United States government to close the detention facilities.

He also asks the Prime Minister to confirm what representations have been made by the Government on behalf of British residents being held at Guantanamo Bay, and to clarify whether British officials have had any role in supporting or facilitating the transfer of individuals to the camp.

Commenting, Sir Menzies said:

The systematic violation of human rights undermines the moral authority of the West and makes it impossible to win the long-term battle for hearts and minds.

It is time for the Prime Minister to take action and to demand the closure of the camp. Detainees should either be charged or released.

I also hope that the senior representatives of the Conservative Party presently visiting Washington will use the opportunity to make it plain that the present situation at Guantanamo Bay is intolerable.

The findings of the UN report are deeply damaging. These practices can have no place in a civilised democracy.

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