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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sir Menzies set to rally Lib Dems | Sir Menzies set to rally Lib Dems |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Sir Menzies Campbell will try to rally his party by saying the Lib Dems offer an alternative to the "cosy consensus" between Labour and the Tories. | Sir Menzies Campbell will try to rally his party by saying the Lib Dems offer an alternative to the "cosy consensus" between Labour and the Tories. |
| In his end-of-conference speech, the party leader hopes to quell doubters by facing the controversial issues, such as his position and age, "head-on". | In his end-of-conference speech, the party leader hopes to quell doubters by facing the controversial issues, such as his position and age, "head-on". |
| He will tell delegates in Brighton that the country needs a political party "prepared to speak the truth". | He will tell delegates in Brighton that the country needs a political party "prepared to speak the truth". |
| He is hoping to deflect attention away from speculation over his leadership. | He is hoping to deflect attention away from speculation over his leadership. |
| Billed as a "policy-heavy" address, he is hoping to put a spring in the step of party delegates. | Billed as a "policy-heavy" address, he is hoping to put a spring in the step of party delegates. |
| He will say: "What our country needs is a political party that's prepared to take the lead and speak the truth, because on so many of the major political issues there is a two-party consensus - comfortable, cosy and complacent." | He will say: "What our country needs is a political party that's prepared to take the lead and speak the truth, because on so many of the major political issues there is a two-party consensus - comfortable, cosy and complacent." |
| He will also repeat his warning that Prime Minister Gordon Brown may call a general election as early as next month, and insist his party is ready for the fight. | He will also repeat his warning that Prime Minister Gordon Brown may call a general election as early as next month, and insist his party is ready for the fight. |
| Distinctive policies | Distinctive policies |
| The Liberal Democrat conference has seen fresh talk about Sir Menzies' leadership with frontbencher Nick Clegg confirming he would stand when there was a vacancy. | The Liberal Democrat conference has seen fresh talk about Sir Menzies' leadership with frontbencher Nick Clegg confirming he would stand when there was a vacancy. |
| Mr Clegg has re-ignited leadership talk | Mr Clegg has re-ignited leadership talk |
| Sir Menzies has said he is "totally relaxed" about such talk and insisted he will lead his party through the next general election and into the following parliament. | Sir Menzies has said he is "totally relaxed" about such talk and insisted he will lead his party through the next general election and into the following parliament. |
| But he is eager to see attention focused onto his distinctive policies and what he claims is the "cosy consensus" between Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron. | But he is eager to see attention focused onto his distinctive policies and what he claims is the "cosy consensus" between Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron. |
| In their battle to dominate the centre-right ground, the two other parties were agreed on issues including the environment, fair taxes, pensions, nuclear power, tuition fees and Iraq, he says. | In their battle to dominate the centre-right ground, the two other parties were agreed on issues including the environment, fair taxes, pensions, nuclear power, tuition fees and Iraq, he says. |
| 'One against two' | 'One against two' |
| In his speech on Thursday, Sir Menzies will say: "That is a consensus that we alone can break. That we must break. | |
| "Only we can achieve that free, fair and green society because only we believe in it. | "Only we can achieve that free, fair and green society because only we believe in it. |
| "Only we will work for it, only we will fight for it. The Liberal Democrats versus Labour and the Tories. | "Only we will work for it, only we will fight for it. The Liberal Democrats versus Labour and the Tories. |
| "Today our party is not only the real alternative, it is the only alternative. Not two against one, but one against two." | "Today our party is not only the real alternative, it is the only alternative. Not two against one, but one against two." |
| Sir Menzies' aides said the speech would not shy away from tackling all the issues which had been raised at the conference - including the leadership and his age. | Sir Menzies' aides said the speech would not shy away from tackling all the issues which had been raised at the conference - including the leadership and his age. |
| They said there would be references to his own "personal credo" and some light-hearted moments. | They said there would be references to his own "personal credo" and some light-hearted moments. |
| But the aim was to map out the big policy differences between the Liberal Democrats and the other two parties and the direction he intends to lead them. | But the aim was to map out the big policy differences between the Liberal Democrats and the other two parties and the direction he intends to lead them. |
| "The voters want someone to rattle the cage of British politics," said one aide. | "The voters want someone to rattle the cage of British politics," said one aide. |