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Sir Menzies seeks deal with Brown Sir Menzies seeks deal with Brown
(30 minutes later)
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has sent out the strongest signal yet that he wants a power sharing deal with Labour after the next general election.Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has sent out the strongest signal yet that he wants a power sharing deal with Labour after the next general election.
In a speech to the party's spring conference, he set five "tests" for Mr Brown as the price for Lib Dem support in the event of a hung parliament. In a party conference speech, he set five "tests" for Gordon Brown as the price for Lib Dem support in the event of a hung parliament.
But in a major break with the party policy electoral reform was not included as the price of its support. But in an apparent break with the party's traditional stance, electoral reform was not included in the list.
A senior party official later confirmed it was no longer a "deal breaker".A senior party official later confirmed it was no longer a "deal breaker".
In his closing speech, to his party's spring conference, he questioned whether the Chancellor, who is favourite to succeed Tony Blair when he stands down later this year, would offer a new direction for Britain. He said Sir Menzies would take a more "flexible approach" to proportional representation than his predecessors and it was no longer the Lib Dems' top priority when it came to co-operating with other parties.
"It is not a deal breaker and it is not a deal maker," he told journalists.
"Real politics is about solving problems."
Opinion polls point strongly towards a hung parliament at the next election, with the Liberal Democrats potentially holding the balance of power.
In his closing speech, to his party's spring conference in Harrogate, Sir Menzies sent a direct message to Gordon Brown, the man expected to take over from Tony Blair as the next prime minister.
He challenged Mr Brown to have the "courage" to embrace liberal democrat values, and to prove he could change direction.
"Why should we believe that Britain will be better governed if he moves from No 11 Downing Street to No 10? Why should we believe that more of the same is what Britain needs?""Why should we believe that Britain will be better governed if he moves from No 11 Downing Street to No 10? Why should we believe that more of the same is what Britain needs?"
'Five tests''Five tests'
Sir Menzies went on: "Britain needs a government that is prepared to reduce inequality and provide quality public services throughout the whole of Britain.Sir Menzies went on: "Britain needs a government that is prepared to reduce inequality and provide quality public services throughout the whole of Britain.
"To uphold the rule of law and to preserve our traditional freedoms, to take on the challenge of climate change and to restore Britain's international reputation."To uphold the rule of law and to preserve our traditional freedoms, to take on the challenge of climate change and to restore Britain's international reputation.
"The question is - can Gordon Brown meet that challenge? Does he have the courage to take Britain in a new direction?""The question is - can Gordon Brown meet that challenge? Does he have the courage to take Britain in a new direction?"
He announced that he had devised five tests for the Chancellor.He announced that he had devised five tests for the Chancellor.
He called on Mr Brown to "end Labour's authoritarian attack on civil liberties" by scrapping ID cards.He called on Mr Brown to "end Labour's authoritarian attack on civil liberties" by scrapping ID cards.
He urged Mr Brown to "grasp the challenge posed by climate change," and, thirdly, "break open the poverty trap".He urged Mr Brown to "grasp the challenge posed by climate change," and, thirdly, "break open the poverty trap".
His fourth test is to "trust the people" by devolving power to local people and the fifth, is that "Britain's foreign policy should not be set in Washington". His fourth test was to "trust the people" by devolving power to local people and the fifth was that "Britain's foreign policy should not be set in Washington".
If Mr Brown met these tests, "he will have changed direction and embraced liberal democracy," Sir Menzies told delegates.
'Teenage kicks''Teenage kicks'
Sir Menzies received a four minute standing ovation from activists following his speech at the party's spring conference. Sir Menzies received a four-minute standing ovation from delegates following his speech at the party's spring conference.
The Lib Dem leader, who has faced questions about his own age, and whether at 65 he is too old to lead his party, began by mocking recent revelations about Conservative leader David Cameron's past. The Lib Dem leader, who has faced questions about his own age and whether, at 65 he is too old to lead his party, began by mocking recent revelations about Conservative leader David Cameron's past.
"Come on Dave, it's time to come clean. Admit your guilty secret."Come on Dave, it's time to come clean. Admit your guilty secret.
"In your youth you were a Tory Boy and your heroes were Michael Howard, Norman Lamont and John Selwyn Gummer.
"With pin-ups like that, frankly, I'd want to keep my past private too.""With pin-ups like that, frankly, I'd want to keep my past private too."
The Lib Dems have used their spring conference to move on to traditional Conservative territory on crime and taxation.The Lib Dems have used their spring conference to move on to traditional Conservative territory on crime and taxation.
Sir Menzies accused Me Cameron of "ducking and weaving" and questioned his judgement on his decision to support the Iraq war.Sir Menzies accused Me Cameron of "ducking and weaving" and questioned his judgement on his decision to support the Iraq war.
"Teenage kicks are one thing, but you've got to grow up sometime," he said."Teenage kicks are one thing, but you've got to grow up sometime," he said.