This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7046288.stm

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Lib Dem leadership race under way It was time to go, says Campbell
(about 2 hours later)
The race to replace Sir Menzies Campbell as Liberal Democrat leader has begun, as MPs start sounding out colleagues about potential bids. Sir Menzies Campbell has told the BBC he felt "irritated and frustrated" at having to step down as Lib Dem leader, but said the decision was his alone.
Sir Menzies quit after 18 months in charge, saying leadership speculation was impeding the party's progress. Sir Menzies, 66, said he could not get out from under the "cloying blanket" of questions about his age and leadership.
Party president Simon Hughes denied he or deputy leader Vincent Cable had "wielded the knife" against the leader. He said getting the party's policies across would be "continually difficult" with 18 months to go until an election.
The early frontrunners to succeed him are Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne, but as many as seven are considering running. He said he had "no sense" of people moving against him, but said it was in the party's interests that he resigned.
Nick Clegg, the current home affairs spokesman, said he needed time to talk to his wife Miriam and "close friends" before deciding whether to stand for the leadership. Sir Menzies' resignation on Monday evening came as a surprise to many of his colleagues - he said he had even rung his wife Elspeth to tell her of his decision on Monday.
'Trivia' obsession
In an interview with the BBC's political editor, Nick Robinson, Sir Menzies was asked if he felt relieved at standing down, or frustrated at not achieving what he had set out to do.
He replied: "Irritated and frustrated. Irritated because of the quite extraordinary concentration of trivia which seem to surround leadership - people write articles on what kind of socks I wear.
LEADERSHIP TIMETABLE: 16 October - Nominations open31 October - Nominations close21 November - Ballot papers sent out15 December - Deadline for completed ballots17 December - New leader announced Who's Who: The contendersLEADERSHIP TIMETABLE: 16 October - Nominations open31 October - Nominations close21 November - Ballot papers sent out15 December - Deadline for completed ballots17 December - New leader announced Who's Who: The contenders
"Events have been very, very sudden. They've taken me by surprise, many people by surprise," he said. "Frustrated at not getting the opportunity to lead the party in a general election, and I think our policies and our principles and our values would have been right at the very centre of the political agenda."
He added that he had spoken to Sir Menzies, who he described as behaving "with extraordinary dignity and integrity". He said he had finally decided to step down after a week in which there had been "seven consecutive sets of reports about my age and about leadership".
Chris Huhne has not said if he will stand - but sources closed to him have told the BBC he is likely to make a statement on Wednesday. "It became pretty clear to me, Gordon Brown having called off the election, that it was going to be very hard to get out from under that - that the sort of development of policy, the sort of presentation of policy, which is necessary was going to be continually difficult simply because the kind of default story in the minds of so many people is the question of my age.
On Sir Menzies' surprise resignation on Monday, he told the BBC: "I think it is a sad business that there have been, I think, quite a lot of ageist comments about Ming. Obviously it is a very private decision and one that he took carefully."
See party leaders' public approval ratings See party leaders' public approval ratings
"And I took the view very firmly that this was not going to be in the interests of the party and that, if I were to step down, it had to be now so that a new leader would have the opportunity of bedding himself or herself in."
The race to replace Sir Menzies is already under way - early frontrunners to succeed him are Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne, but as many as seven are considering running.
There wasn't a plot, Ming made the decision his own way yesterday Lord Rennard Analysis: Why Campbell went Nick Robinson's view
Mr Clegg, the current home affairs spokesman, said he needed time to talk to his wife Miriam and "close friends" before deciding whether to stand for the leadership.
"Events have been very, very sudden. They've taken me by surprise, many people by surprise," he said.
Mr Huhne has not said if he will stand - but sources close to him have told the BBC he is likely to make a statement on Wednesday.
I regret his decision to go, although I think it was probably the right one Lord Ashdown Profile: Sir Menzies Campbell Reaction in quotes
Among others who have told the BBC they are sounding out colleagues about whether they should stand are Steve Webb, who is in charge of writing up the party's election manifesto, and Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming.Among others who have told the BBC they are sounding out colleagues about whether they should stand are Steve Webb, who is in charge of writing up the party's election manifesto, and Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming.
Steven Williams, MP for Bristol West, previously supported Chris Huhne but said he would be talking to him, Nick Clegg and Steve Webb later before making his mind up.Steven Williams, MP for Bristol West, previously supported Chris Huhne but said he would be talking to him, Nick Clegg and Steve Webb later before making his mind up.
"I think all three of them have been ringing around colleagues to see whether they can muster enough support in order to mount a credible leadership bid. This is going to be a different sort of election from what we went through about 18 months ago.""I think all three of them have been ringing around colleagues to see whether they can muster enough support in order to mount a credible leadership bid. This is going to be a different sort of election from what we went through about 18 months ago."
There wasn't a plot, Ming made the decision his own way yesterday Lord Rennard class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7045708.stm">Analysis: Why Campbell went class="" href="http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/10/third_time_luck.html">Nick Robinson's view 'Back-biting'
Mr Hughes, who has stood for the leadership twice before, has ruled himself out of this contest.Mr Hughes, who has stood for the leadership twice before, has ruled himself out of this contest.
He told the BBC the party owed Sir Menzies "a huge debt of gratitude", and said he had taken "his own counsel", rather than being forced out.He told the BBC the party owed Sir Menzies "a huge debt of gratitude", and said he had taken "his own counsel", rather than being forced out.
But Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock is among those who believes Sir Menzies was hounded out by members of the party.But Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock is among those who believes Sir Menzies was hounded out by members of the party.
HAVE YOUR SAY I am saddened that such a steady and trustworthy person was unpopular solely because of his age Will Stobart Send us your comments In full: Resignation letter
"Why should he have to take some of the back-biting from people who couldn't say it to his face?," he said."Why should he have to take some of the back-biting from people who couldn't say it to his face?," he said.
'Real tragedy'
The party's chief executive and elections expert, Lord Rennard, denied he had been forced out, telling the BBC: "There wasn't a plot, Ming made the decision his own way yesterday."The party's chief executive and elections expert, Lord Rennard, denied he had been forced out, telling the BBC: "There wasn't a plot, Ming made the decision his own way yesterday."
He said it was a "real tragedy" for Sir Menzies that a general election campaign had not been called for November, as he expected the party to have done "extremely well".He said it was a "real tragedy" for Sir Menzies that a general election campaign had not been called for November, as he expected the party to have done "extremely well".
I regret his decision to go, although I think it was probably the right one Lord Ashdown Profile: Sir Menzies Campbell Reaction in quotes
The official announcement was made on Monday evening by Mr Cable and Mr Hughes, who said Sir Menzies had taken the decision in the "interests of the party and of Liberal Democracy".
Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown described Sir Menzies' resignation as "a selfless act by an honourable man who put his party first".Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown described Sir Menzies' resignation as "a selfless act by an honourable man who put his party first".
"I regret his decision to go, although I think it was probably the right one," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."I regret his decision to go, although I think it was probably the right one," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The peer said he had planned to meet Sir Menzies on Tuesday to discuss his future.The peer said he had planned to meet Sir Menzies on Tuesday to discuss his future.
December announcement
"I was going to say to him: 'Look, Menzies, it's going to be quite tough for you to continue until an election in 2009 but the one thing is very clear and that is when you go, go on your own terms and go when you want to go'. He beat me to it," he said."I was going to say to him: 'Look, Menzies, it's going to be quite tough for you to continue until an election in 2009 but the one thing is very clear and that is when you go, go on your own terms and go when you want to go'. He beat me to it," he said.
The official contest to select a successor has already begun, with the winner due to be announced on 17 December.The official contest to select a successor has already begun, with the winner due to be announced on 17 December.
HAVE YOUR SAY I am saddened that such a steady and trustworthy person was unpopular solely because of his age Will Stobart Send us your comments In full: Resignation letter
Speculation had been growing about the Lib Dem leadership, particularly since Prime Minister Gordon Brown decided not to call an early general election - and indicated he may not do so until 2009 at the earliest.
And talk of replacing Sir Menzies as leader appears to have been stirred by poor opinion poll results - the latest being an ICM poll in the Sunday Telegraph which suggested Conservative support at 43% with Labour on 36% and the Lib Dems on 14%.
Since he became leader Sir Menzies, 66, has repeatedly had to defend himself against accusations that he was too old to lead the party.
Data not available for September 2006 and February and March 2007.Data not available for September 2006 and February and March 2007.
Return Return