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Sir Menzies set to rally Lib Dems I'm not too old, says Sir Menzies
(about 2 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 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.
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". 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 will tell delegates in Brighton that the country needs a political party "prepared to speak the truth". He is bidding end talk about his future that has dogged the week in Brighton.
He is hoping to deflect attention away from speculation over his leadership. 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 policiesDistinctive 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 talkMr 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 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 on Thursday, Sir Menzies will say: "That is a consensus that we alone can break. That we must break. 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."
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. 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."
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.
"The voters want someone to rattle the cage of British politics," said one aide.