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.
January 28: Ming Campbell at the Plymouth hustings:
Be proud of who we are and what we have achieved. But the best is yet to come. Not a time for caution and consolidation. Time for confidence and commitment. I am confident. You are committed. Together there should be no limit to our ambition.
The first official party hustings were held in Plymouth today. Sir Ming Campbell gave a forceful speech at the hustings, setting out five areas for the party’s future direction:
- fighting poverty
- civil liberties
- the environment
- internationalism
- reviving local democracy
When asked by Sky News if he was confident now that commentators are putting him as the clear front runner, Ming Campbell said:
I take nothing for granted. I am optimistic, but not complacent.
When queried about the possibility of the Tory and Labour parties squeezing the Liberal Democrats out at the next election, he answered:
Bring them on…
Read Ming’s Plymouth hustings speech in full »
January 23: Speaking at the Eden Project in Cornwall, Ming Campbell called for an Environmental Incentive Programme to build incentives for good environmental behaviour into the tax system. It would be part of an historic shift in our tax system to make polluters pay and to take the poorest out of tax.
Unveiling a series of proposals to protect the environment, Ming Campbell also called for;
- Further road charging systems, with councils having the right to use the revenues raised to improve their own public transport alternatives.
- Better information for individuals about the environment impact of their actions – such as details of the carbon emissions caused by flights on airline tickets.
- Developing carbon accounts for individuals and households, once the technology allows, to influence everyday behaviour.
- A new international agreement on carbon dioxide emissions to tackle climate change.
- Developing the full range of renewable energy, reducing energy demand, promoting cleaned-up fossil fuel and encouraging localised micro generation rather than rushing towards the costly and problematic nuclear option.
Ming Campbell was accompanied to the Eden Project by the party’s environment spokesman Norman Baker MP, who is one of Ming’s leading supporters.
Read the environment speech in full »
January 19: Launching his campaign, Ming Campbell pledged that under his leadership the Liberal Democrats will not be making polite interjections from the sidelines. “We will be hammering on the doors of power”, he said.
He highlighted the five key themes of his campaign:
- fighting poverty,
- civil liberties,
- the environment,
- internationalism and
- reviving local democracy.
He said that he has been overwhelmed by the support of Liberal Democrats across the party. His campaign has the support of some of the brightest and the best in British politics and British public life.
In every era the glittering talents colonise one political party. It is our fortune that this bright generation has chosen the Liberal Democrats. My mission, as Leader, would be to harness their ability, to ensure that it is our party that becomes the rallying point and the catalyst of this new political era.
Read the campaign launch speech in full »
