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I'm not too old, says Sir Menzies I'm not too old, says Sir Menzies
(about 1 hour 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 Campbell has used 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". Sir Menzies, 66, said he would 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 received a standing ovation for the speech which he hoped would end this week's speculation about his future.
He will say that only the Lib Dems can smash the "cosy consensus" between Labour and the Tories. To loud applause he said he answered to Lib Dems members and "not the media".
He said he aimed to "rattle the cage" of British politics and smash the "cosy consensus" between Labour under Gordon Brown and the Conservatives under David Cameron.
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 DemsToday 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. He also repeated his warning that Prime Minister Gordon Brown may call a general election as early as next month, and insisted his party was ready for the fight.
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." The conference has seen fresh talk about Sir Menzies' leadership with frontbencher Nick Clegg confirming he would stand when there was a vacancy.
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. 'Free, fair and green'
Distinctive policies Sir Menzies has said he is "totally relaxed" about such talk and insisted he would lead his party through the next general election and into the following parliament.
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. But he is eager to see attention focused onto policies which he claims are distinctive.
Mr Clegg has re-ignited leadership talk 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 said.
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. When you are deciding whether to send our young men and women to war, it pays to have that experience and it pays to have that judgement Sir Menzies CampbellLib Dem leader class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7004535.stm">In full: Sir Menzies' speech
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 his speech, Sir Menzies said: "That is a consensus that we alone can break. That we must break.
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'
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." Taking on his critics in the media and his own party, he said: "Now when it comes to the next general election, I believe there is some speculation that age will be a factor. You bet it will. Because I'll make it one.
"Because with age comes experience, and with experience comes judgement. And when you are deciding whether to send our young men and women to war, it pays to have that experience and it pays to have that judgement."
Green 'Bill of Rights'
He added: "So, if military action is proposed against Iran, who should the British people trust to stand up to George Bush
"Should they trust the Labour and Conservative MPs who voted for the war in Iraq?
"Or should they trust the Liberal Democrats who stood - steadfast - against the tragic folly of that decision? While we stand by our record, our opponents seek to hide theirs."
The environment has been a key theme of the week and Sir Menzies unveiled another policy in his speech - a Bill of Rights "that puts the protection of the environment at the very heart of Britain's constitution".
"We should guarantee the right of every citizen to clean water, pure air and unpolluted land," he told delegates.
Aides said the idea would work like the Human Right Act, with people able to challenge the government over threats to their local environment. They denied it would allow people to block new roads or airports.