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Sir Menzies hopes for tax victory Lib Dem tax vote 'not High Noon'
(about 1 hour later)
Sir Menzies Campbell has insisted his position would not be undermined if he lost a vote on tax at his first party conference as Liberal Democrat leader.Sir Menzies Campbell has insisted his position would not be undermined if he lost a vote on tax at his first party conference as Liberal Democrat leader.
He was speaking in a BBC interview ahead of the conference in Brighton. Speaking as the conference began in Brighton, he told BBC News the vote was not a "High Noon" moment.
He wants to ditch the commitment to a 50p top rate on incomes over £150,000 in favour of "green" taxes but faces opposition from party members. He wants to ditch the commitment to a 50p top rate on incomes more than £100,000 in favour of "green" taxes.
He also said his predecessor Charles Kennedy would be welcomed back to the party's front bench "when ready". He also gave his strongest signal yet that he wants ex-leader Charles Kennedy back on the party's front bench.
Speaking about the tax vote, Sir Menzies said: "I believe that if we are to fulfil the objective of substance and not symbolism the package as a whole should be adopted." Challenge
Sir Menzies said the conference would see "robust, full-blooded debates" and that Mr Kennedy, who resigned as party leader after it emerged he had a drink problem, could still make a "remarkable contribution". The tax proposals are the biggest change in policy Sir Menzies has attempted since becoming leader earlier this year.
Mr Kennedy is due to make a speech on the platform at the conference. The plans include cutting 2p from the basic rate of income tax, with a £7bn increase in "green" taxes on cars and aviation used to fund the change.
He has said that talk of him challenging Sir Menzies for the leadership is fanciful, but has also said "Who knows what the future holds?" when asked if he may yet become leader again. Sir Menzies said: "If we are to fulfil the objective of substance and not symbolism the package as a whole should be adopted."
Sir Menzies Campbell is interviewed by Andrew Marr on Sunday AM on BBC One, from 0900 BST. He told BBC One's Sunday AM programme the proposals were "redistributive" and would help take two million people out of paying tax altogether.
Former frontbencher Evan Harris is leading a challenge to the tax plans.
The MP has proposed an amendment calling for a system that is fairer "in relation to income as well as wealth", with a 50% rate on earnings over £150,000 per year.
But Sir Menzies said his leadership was not under question if he lost the vote.
"This is not High Noon," he said.
Kennedy's return
Sir Menzies said the conference would see "robust, full-blooded debates".
Mr Kennedy, who resigned as party leader after it emerged he had a drink problem, could still make a "remarkable contribution", he said.
The former leader is due to make a speech on the platform at the conference.
Mr Kennedy has said that talk of him challenging Sir Menzies for the leadership is fanciful, but has also said: "Who knows what the future holds?" when asked if he may yet become leader again.
Sir Menzies said he would welcome Mr Kennedy back onto the front bench "when he is ready".
"It would be madness for any leader not to have Charles Kennedy on the front bench because he has a rare quality in British politics in the early part of the 21st Century - he connects with the British people," he said.
Simon Hughes, who was a candidate in the leadership election, said earlier this year that Sir Menzies needed to be judged at the party conference.
Sir Menzies said he had found prime minister's questions "pretty torrid" but believed he had become "infinitely more comfortable" in the sessions.
But he said it was policy questions which really counted.
"If that is a test then I believe that is a task I have passed," he added.