Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell Resigns

Reports have come in that Sir Menzies Campbell has resigned the leadership of the Liberal Democrats with immediate effect. Sir Menzies Campbell said in a letter, “It has become clear that following the Prime Minister’s decision not to hold an election, questions about leadership are getting in the way of further progress by the party.

“Accordingly, I now submit my resignation as Leader with immediate effect.”

Party president Simon Hughes announced the resignation this evening saying, “For the last two years he has given huge purpose and stability to our party. He has led the professionalisation of the party and laid the very successful preparations for the General Election whenever it comes.

“Throughout his political life he has taken all of his decisions and this decision is one of them. Every Liberal-Democrat and many other people owe him a huge debt of gratitude.”

The temporary replacement for Sir Menzies is Vince Cable, the Lib Dem deputy leader. He added that Sir Menzies was not stabbed in the back and that he had been thinking about his position over the last few days.

He continued to say that the political context changed when Gordon Brown decided not to hold the election and ‘the best way he [Sir Menzies] could help the party was by standing aside’. Cable added he thought that the party would come back stronger.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to the former leader saying, “Sir Menzies Campbell is a man of great stature and integrity that served his party and country with distinction,”

David Cameron, Tory leader has said, “Sir Menzies Campbell has had a distinguished parliamentary career and is a fine public servant.”

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