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I'm not too old, says Sir Menzies | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Sir Menzies Campbell is using his closing speech at the Liberal Democrat conference to hit back at critics who say he is too old to lead the party. | |
Sir Menzies, 66, will say he will make age an issue at the next election because "with age comes experience, and with experience comes judgement". | |
He is bidding end talk about his future that has dogged the week in Brighton. | |
He will say that only the Lib Dems can smash the "cosy consensus" between 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 Sir Menzies CampbellLib Dem leader At-a-glance: Lib Dems | |
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 policies which he claims are distinctive compared with 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, 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." |
One of Sir Menzies' aides said the aim was to map out the big policy differences between the Liberal Democrats and the other two parties, adding: "The voters want someone to rattle the cage of British politics." | |