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Lib Dems 'won't trade principles' Lib Dems poised 'to rattle cage'
(1 day later)
The Liberal Democrats are not "prepared to trade our principled opposition for the sake of ministerial jobs", party leader Sir Menzies Campbell will say. The Liberal Democrats are set to "rattle the cage of British politics" when Gordon Brown becomes PM.
He is expected to add that he will oppose the government's "centralising and authoritarian tendencies". Leader Sir Menzies Campbell said his party would "scrutinise his policies with relentless, forensic vigour".
It emerged last week that Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown had offered ex-Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown the post of Northern Ireland secretary. He dismissed the chance of Lib Dems being in a Labour Cabinet, saying there was a "chasm" between parties.
Sir Menzies will say that a "chasm" exists between his party and Labour. And Sir Menzies, 66, said he would "absolutely" make his age an issue in the battle with Mr Brown and Tory leader David Cameron.
But he will add that he welcomes all-party talks on a range of issues including climate change and constitutional reform. Experience
Scrutinise policies "Politics would benefit from more people with experience," he said in a speech to party staff.
In a speech to Lib Dem staff in Westminster, Sir Menzies will say: "We have consistently opposed the centralising and authoritarian tendencies of this Labour government. "If more experienced politicians had taken the decisions, we might not be mired in the conflict that we see in Iraq today."
"I am not prepared to trade our principled opposition for the sake of ministerial jobs." We will give a political voice to those who are not being heard in government Sir Menzies CampbellLiberal Democrat leader
He will promise to "put him [Mr Brown] in the dock and scrutinise his policies and pronouncements with relentless, forensic vigour. His fingerprints are all over the scene of the crime". Speaking one day before the chancellor takes over from Tony Blair, Sir Menzies promised to "put him in the dock and scrutinise his policies and pronouncements with relentless, forensic vigour. His fingerprints are all over the scene of the crime".
Sir Menzies will add: "Under a Brown premiership, the Liberal Democrats will rattle the cage of British politics. He said the party would "expose the government" on issues such as freedom of information, civil liberties, and the BAE sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.
"We will expose the government on BAE, freedom of information and the erosion of civil liberties. "Under a Brown premiership, the Liberal Democrats will rattle the cage of British politics.
"We will give a political voice to those who are not being heard in government.""We will give a political voice to those who are not being heard in government."
Sir Menzies is expected to say Lib Dems cannot enter a Labour administration because of a "political chasm" on issues such as nuclear energy, ID cards, city academies, council tax, nuclear weapons and the war in Iraq. Addressing the possibility that Liberal Democrats could be included in the next Cabinet, Sir Menzies said the party was not "prepared to trade our principled opposition for the sake of ministerial jobs".
Northern Ireland post
It emerged last week that Mr Brown had offered ex-Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown the post of Northern Ireland secretary.
Sir Menzies said there was a "political chasm" between the parties on issues such as nuclear energy, ID cards, city academies, council tax, nuclear weapons and the war in Iraq.
Last week, Lord Ashdown said he had been offered the Northern Ireland secretary job after Sir Menzies had said no member of his party would join Mr Brown's government.Last week, Lord Ashdown said he had been offered the Northern Ireland secretary job after Sir Menzies had said no member of his party would join Mr Brown's government.
But on Sunday Mr Brown said: "This is not a correct account of what happened. It is a total travesty of what happened."But on Sunday Mr Brown said: "This is not a correct account of what happened. It is a total travesty of what happened."
The chancellor, who replaces Tony Blair as prime minister on Wednesday, also told the BBC: "What I would say to you is absolutely this: that there are people of expertise and wide experience.The chancellor, who replaces Tony Blair as prime minister on Wednesday, also told the BBC: "What I would say to you is absolutely this: that there are people of expertise and wide experience.
"They may not be in your own political party, but in the case of Northern Ireland I was talking to someone who had something to offer, and I think it's right that we are inclusive and it's right to draw on all the talents.""They may not be in your own political party, but in the case of Northern Ireland I was talking to someone who had something to offer, and I think it's right that we are inclusive and it's right to draw on all the talents."