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Sir Menzies hits out at opponents Sir Menzies hits out at opponents
(10 minutes later)
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has launched a twin pronged attack on the men he expects to face at the next general election. Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has launched a two-pronged attack on the men he expects to face at the next general election.
In a speech at the party's spring conference, he asked if Chancellor Gordon Brown had the "courage" to take Britain in a new direction.In a speech at the party's spring conference, he asked if Chancellor Gordon Brown had the "courage" to take Britain in a new direction.
He set Mr Brown five policy "tests" - seen as possible terms for a coalition deal with Labour at the next election.He set Mr Brown five policy "tests" - seen as possible terms for a coalition deal with Labour at the next election.
He branded Conservative leader David Cameron an inexperienced "Tory Boy". And he branded Tory leader David Cameron an inexperienced "Tory Boy".
'Teenage kicks'
Sir Menzies, who has faced questions about his own age, and whether at 65 he is too old to lead his party, mocked recent revelations about Mr Cameron's youth.Sir Menzies, who has faced questions about his own age, and whether at 65 he is too old to lead his party, mocked recent revelations about Mr Cameron's youth.
"Come on Dave, it's time to come clean. Admit your guilty secret."Come on Dave, it's time to come clean. Admit your guilty secret.
"In your youth you were a Tory Boy and your heroes were Michael Howard, Norman Lamont and John Selwyn Gummer. Why should we believe that Britain will be better governed if he moves from No 11 Downing Street to No 10? Sir Menzies Campbell on Gordon Brown "In your youth you were a Tory Boy and your heroes were Michael Howard, Norman Lamont and John Selwyn Gummer.
"With pin-ups like that, frankly, I'd want to keep my past private too.""With pin-ups like that, frankly, I'd want to keep my past private too."
The Lib Dems have used their spring conference to move on to traditional Conservative territory on crime and taxation.The Lib Dems have used their spring conference to move on to traditional Conservative territory on crime and taxation.
Sir Menzies accused him of "ducking and weaving" and questioned Mr Cameron's judgement on his decision to support the Iraq war.Sir Menzies accused him of "ducking and weaving" and questioned Mr Cameron's judgement on his decision to support the Iraq war.
"Teenage kicks are one thing, but you've got to grow up sometime," he told Cameron. "Teenage kicks are one thing, but you've got to grow up sometime," he told Mr Cameron.
Turning to Mr Brown, he will question whether the Chancellor, who is favourite to succeed Tony Blair when he stands down later this year, will offer a new direction for Britain.Turning to Mr Brown, he will question whether the Chancellor, who is favourite to succeed Tony Blair when he stands down later this year, will offer a new direction for Britain.
"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?""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 went on: "Britain needs a government that is prepared to reduce inequality and provide quality public services throughout the whole of Britain. 'Five tests'
Sir Menzies went 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.
He will call on Mr Brown to "end Labour's authoritarian attack on civil liberties" by scrapping ID cards.He will call on Mr Brown to "end Labour's authoritarian attack on civil liberties" by scrapping ID cards.
He will urge Mr Brown to "grasp the challenge posed by climate change," and, thirdly, "break open the poverty trap".He will urge Mr Brown to "grasp the challenge posed by climate change," and, thirdly, "break open the poverty trap".
His fourth test is to "trust the people" by devolving power to local people and the fifth, is that "Britain's foreign policy should not be set in Washington".His fourth test is to "trust the people" by devolving power to local people and the fifth, is that "Britain's foreign policy should not be set in Washington".
'Gutsy''Gutsy'
Sir Menzies has faced questions about his style of leadership - and a poll for BBC Newsnight - found that only 6% of people thought he could run the country.Sir Menzies has faced questions about his style of leadership - and a poll for BBC Newsnight - found that only 6% of people thought he could run the country.
But his leadership received a boost on Saturday when he saw off a challenge to his policy on delaying a decision on replacing Trident nuclear weapons after making a personal appeal to activists.But his leadership received a boost on Saturday when he saw off a challenge to his policy on delaying a decision on replacing Trident nuclear weapons after making a personal appeal to activists.
Party managers and MPs said it was a turning point for Sir Menzies, with some even suggesting it will be seen as his "Clause IV," moment, referring to Tony Blair's symbolic ditching of Labour's commitment to state ownership.Party managers and MPs said it was a turning point for Sir Menzies, with some even suggesting it will be seen as his "Clause IV," moment, referring to Tony Blair's symbolic ditching of Labour's commitment to state ownership.
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."
He could not imagine David Cameron or Gordon Brown doing that in their respective parties, he added.