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Nick Clegg under pressure after Lib Dem election losses Under pressure Clegg defiant after Lib Dem election losses
(about 1 hour later)
Nick Clegg should be replaced as Lib Dem leader by Vince Cable, one of the party's MPs has said after their worst European election result for 25 years. Nick Clegg has rejected calls for him to stand down as leader of the Liberal Democrats after the party's worst European election result for 25 years.
John Pugh called for Nick Clegg's position to be reviewed after the party lost all but one of its 12 MEPs. Lib Dem MP John Pugh said Mr Clegg should be replaced by Vince Cable called after the party lost all but one of its 12 MEPs.
The MP told the BBC it was "ludicrous" to carry on as usual, saying the results were "undeserved but abysmal". The MP told the BBC it was "ludicrous" to carry on as usual.
But former leader Sir Menzies Campbell urged supporters not to panic and to back their "courageous" leader.But former leader Sir Menzies Campbell urged supporters not to panic and to back their "courageous" leader.
The Lib Dems slipped to fifth in the European polls, behind the Green Party, as they lost seats in every region apart from the South East of England.The Lib Dems slipped to fifth in the European polls, behind the Green Party, as they lost seats in every region apart from the South East of England.
'Complacent' Mr Clegg told the BBC: "There are some individuals who say they want a change of leadership, a change of strategy, or who want to pull out of the coalition altogether. Of course it is right to have searching questions in the wake of such a bad set of election results.
"But if I'm honest with you the easiest thing in politics, as well as sometimes in life, when the going gets really, really tough is just to walk away, to wash your hands of it.
"But I'm not going to do that and my party's not going to do that.
"The vast majority of Liberal Democrats do not believe that we should lose our nerve and walk away just now."
Lib Dems expected to fare badly in the elections but party president Tim Farron has said its performance - coupled with the loss of 250 council seats in the local elections - was "staggeringly disappointing".Lib Dems expected to fare badly in the elections but party president Tim Farron has said its performance - coupled with the loss of 250 council seats in the local elections - was "staggeringly disappointing".
Mr Farron, Sir Menzies and Lord Ashdown - another former leader who is running the party's general election campaign - have defended Mr Clegg's leadership and appealed for party unity.Mr Farron, Sir Menzies and Lord Ashdown - another former leader who is running the party's general election campaign - have defended Mr Clegg's leadership and appealed for party unity.
But Mr Pugh, the MP for Southport, said the party was underestimating the difficulties it was in and there was an "overwhelming" case for Mr Clegg's future to be discussed.But Mr Pugh, the MP for Southport, said the party was underestimating the difficulties it was in and there was an "overwhelming" case for Mr Clegg's future to be discussed.
"We have just lost 72% of the council seats we were defending and 91% of the Euro seats," he said."We have just lost 72% of the council seats we were defending and 91% of the Euro seats," he said.
"The vast majority of the UK this morning is without Lib Dem representation at any level. If that does not prompt a serious, sharp review focussed view both of strategy and leadership, then whatever will!"The vast majority of the UK this morning is without Lib Dem representation at any level. If that does not prompt a serious, sharp review focussed view both of strategy and leadership, then whatever will!
"Orders just to press on regardless are genuinely of Somme-like insanity.""Orders just to press on regardless are genuinely of Somme-like insanity."
'Traitorous''Traitorous'
Mr Pugh said a "section of the electorate" was not listening to Mr Clegg and that his "personal preference" was for a "Cable succession".Mr Pugh said a "section of the electorate" was not listening to Mr Clegg and that his "personal preference" was for a "Cable succession".
Any transition to a new leader must take place "without aggravation or discord", he told the BBC News Channel, and if the party decided to stick with Mr Clegg, he said he would "knuckle" down and accept it.Any transition to a new leader must take place "without aggravation or discord", he told the BBC News Channel, and if the party decided to stick with Mr Clegg, he said he would "knuckle" down and accept it.
Asked whether other MPs shared his views, he said. "All MPs see the problem. What they don't all agree on is the solution."Asked whether other MPs shared his views, he said. "All MPs see the problem. What they don't all agree on is the solution."
A third general election candidate, Helen Flynn, has called for Mr Clegg to stand down amid mumblings in the party which the BBC expects to increase during the day.A third general election candidate, Helen Flynn, has called for Mr Clegg to stand down amid mumblings in the party which the BBC expects to increase during the day.
Martin Tod, a member of the Liberal Democrats' federal executive, claimed voters were "not prepared" to listen to Mr Clegg and said his party's response to the election reversals had been "complacent".Martin Tod, a member of the Liberal Democrats' federal executive, claimed voters were "not prepared" to listen to Mr Clegg and said his party's response to the election reversals had been "complacent".
Former MP Sandra Gidley, one of about 250 people to have signed an online letter demanding a change of leader, said Mr Clegg was "associated with the broken promises of the coalition".Former MP Sandra Gidley, one of about 250 people to have signed an online letter demanding a change of leader, said Mr Clegg was "associated with the broken promises of the coalition".
She told the BBC's Today programme that a new leader would be able to better articulate the "positive difference" the party had made by working with the Conservatives.She told the BBC's Today programme that a new leader would be able to better articulate the "positive difference" the party had made by working with the Conservatives.
But Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander, who has been touted as a future leader himself, insisted Mr Clegg was "by far the best spokesman" for the Lib Dems.But Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander, who has been touted as a future leader himself, insisted Mr Clegg was "by far the best spokesman" for the Lib Dems.
Sir Menzies said the Lib Dems had had to fight the election in a "febrile" eurosceptic climate.Sir Menzies said the Lib Dems had had to fight the election in a "febrile" eurosceptic climate.
"There's no doubt in my mind that Nick Clegg is the person with the courage and the resilience to take the party through to and during, and indeed after, the next general election.""There's no doubt in my mind that Nick Clegg is the person with the courage and the resilience to take the party through to and during, and indeed after, the next general election."
'Post-mortem''Post-mortem'
Catherine Bearder, the only Liberal Democrat MEP to be elected so far, said Mr Clegg had been right to go out and campaign on a positive EU platform.Catherine Bearder, the only Liberal Democrat MEP to be elected so far, said Mr Clegg had been right to go out and campaign on a positive EU platform.
"It's been very difficult," she told Sky News. "We fought a very good, positive campaign on our issues of being in the European Union and standing up for Britain in the European Union.""It's been very difficult," she told Sky News. "We fought a very good, positive campaign on our issues of being in the European Union and standing up for Britain in the European Union."
She denied Mr Clegg or the EU as a whole had proved unpopular on the doorstep, but added: "People don't understand how the European Union works and they don't think it is important to their daily lives."She denied Mr Clegg or the EU as a whole had proved unpopular on the doorstep, but added: "People don't understand how the European Union works and they don't think it is important to their daily lives."
Some MPs have expressed reservations about the leadership of the party but none have yet called for Mr Clegg - who took over in 2007 - to stand down.Some MPs have expressed reservations about the leadership of the party but none have yet called for Mr Clegg - who took over in 2007 - to stand down.
Among MEPs to lose their seats include veterans Sir Graham Watson, Andrew Duff and Bill Newton Dunn as well as Edward McMillan-Scott, an ex-Tory who was the only British vice-president of the European Parliament.Among MEPs to lose their seats include veterans Sir Graham Watson, Andrew Duff and Bill Newton Dunn as well as Edward McMillan-Scott, an ex-Tory who was the only British vice-president of the European Parliament.