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| Sir Menzies tells of 'irritation' | Sir Menzies tells of 'irritation' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| 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 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, 66, said he could not get out from under the "cloying blanket" of questions about his age and leadership. | Sir Menzies, 66, said he could not get out from under the "cloying blanket" of questions about his age and leadership. |
| He said getting the party's policies across would be "continually difficult" with 18 months to go until an election. | He said getting the party's policies across would be "continually difficult" with 18 months to go until an election. |
| He said he had "no sense" of people moving against him, but said it was in the party's interests that he resigned. | He said he had "no sense" of people moving against him, but said it was in the party's interests that he resigned. |
| Sir Menzies' resignation on Monday evening came as a surprise to many of his colleagues - and he had to ring his wife Elspeth to tell her of his decision on Monday. | Sir Menzies' resignation on Monday evening came as a surprise to many of his colleagues - and he had to ring his wife Elspeth to tell her of his decision on Monday. |
| 'Trivia' obsession | '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. | 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. | 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 contenders Profile: Sir Menzies Campbell | 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 contenders Profile: Sir Menzies Campbell |
| "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." | "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 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". | 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". |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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." | "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. | 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. |
| 'Irritated and frustrated' - how Sir Menzies described himself to me BBC political editor Nick Robinson href="http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/10/a_meeting_with.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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, Ed Davey, Susan Kramer 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, Ed Davey, Susan Kramer and Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming. |
| 'Back-biting' | 'Back-biting' |
| Party president Simon Hughes, who has stood for the leadership twice before, has ruled himself out of this contest. | Party president Simon 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 | 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 |
| 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." |
| Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown said his advice to Sir Menzies would have been to go on his own terms. | Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown said his advice to Sir Menzies would have been to go on his own terms. |
| 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. |
| Data not available for September 2006 and February and March 2007. | Data not available for September 2006 and February and March 2007. |
| Return | Return |