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Sir Menzies' five tests for Brown Sir Menzies' five tests for Brown
(30 minutes later)
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell will turn his fire on Gordon Brown in a keynote speech to party activists in Harrogate. Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell will turn his fire on Chancellor Gordon Brown in a keynote speech to party activists in Harrogate.
Sir Menzies will ask whether the chancellor - the favourite to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister - would offer anything different. Sir Menzies will ask whether the chancellor has the "courage" to take Britain in a new direction.
He will set Mr Brown five tests of his ability to run the country. And he will set Mr Brown five "tests" on key policy areas - civil liberties, climate change, poverty, localism and foreign affairs.
Sir Menzies scored a victory over rebels over his proposal to delay a decision on replacing Trident. He will also attack Tory leader David Cameron for imitating Tony Blair.
Opponents, including some of his own MPs, want Trident to be scrapped when it reaches the end of its life. Sir Menzies has pledged to take the Lib Dems in to a new phase after steadying the ship during his first year as leader.
Sir Menzies wants the number of warheads cut by 50% now, but a decision on replacing them delayed to 2014. On Saturday, Sir Menzies scored an important victory over rebels in his own party, including some MPs, over his proposal to delay a decision on replacing Trident nuclear weapons.
'Inequality''Inequality'
His success, secured after an 11th-hour personal appeal, follows criticism of his style of leadership.His success, secured after an 11th-hour personal appeal, follows criticism of his style of leadership.
In his main speech to the conference, he will question whether Mr Brown, who is favourite to succeed Tony Blair, will offer a new direction for Britain. In his main speech to the party's spring conference, he will question whether Mr Brown, who is favourite to succeed Mr Blair later this year, will offer a new direction for Britain.
He is expected to say: "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?"He is expected to say: "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?"
He will go on: "Britain needs a government that is prepared to reduce inequality and provide quality public services throughout the whole of Britain.He will go 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 will announce that he has devised five tests for the Chancellor.He will announce that he has devised five tests for the Chancellor.
"They are very clear-cut: first, end the Labour Government's authoritarian attack on civil liberties; second, grasp the challenge posed by climate change; third, break open the poverty trap; fourth, trust the people and free them from the yoke of Whitehall; and fifth, Britain's foreign policy should not be set in Washington.""They are very clear-cut: first, end the Labour Government's authoritarian attack on civil liberties; second, grasp the challenge posed by climate change; third, break open the poverty trap; fourth, trust the people and free them from the yoke of Whitehall; and fifth, Britain's foreign policy should not be set in Washington."
'Gutsy''Gutsy'
The conference has been dogged by suggestions that Sir Menzies is too old to be a potential prime minister - and a poll for BBC Newsnight, which found that only 6% of people thought he could run the country.The conference has been dogged by suggestions that Sir Menzies is too old to be a potential prime minister - and a poll for BBC Newsnight, which found that only 6% of people thought he could run the country.
Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, Chris Huhne - who lost out to Sir Menzies in last year's leadership election - told BBC Breakfast he had every confidence in his leadership.Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, Chris Huhne - who lost out to Sir Menzies in last year's leadership election - told BBC Breakfast he had every confidence in his leadership.
"I think that Menzies showed very clearly yesterday (Saturday) that he's got exactly the stuff necessary to lead the party in a very clear direction."I think that Menzies showed very clearly yesterday (Saturday) that he's got exactly the stuff necessary to lead the party in a very clear direction.
He took the party literally by the scruff of its neck during the debate on the future of Britain's nuclear deterrent, put his own leadership on the line in a very gutsy way and gave the sort of strong leadership which I think is absolutely essential, which you can't imagine frankly either David Cameron or Gordon Brown doing in their respective parties."He took the party literally by the scruff of its neck during the debate on the future of Britain's nuclear deterrent, put his own leadership on the line in a very gutsy way and gave the sort of strong leadership which I think is absolutely essential, which you can't imagine frankly either David Cameron or Gordon Brown doing in their respective parties."