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| I'm not too old, says Sir Menzies | I'm not too old, says Sir Menzies |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| 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 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, said he would 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 received a standing ovation for the speech which he hoped would end this week's speculation about his future. | He received a standing ovation for the speech which he hoped would end this week's speculation about his future. |
| To loud applause he said he answered to Lib Dems members and "not the media". | 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. | 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 Dems | 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 |
| 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 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. |
| The conference has seen fresh talk about Sir Menzies' leadership with frontbencher Nick Clegg confirming he would stand when there was a vacancy. | The conference has seen fresh talk about Sir Menzies' leadership with frontbencher Nick Clegg confirming he would stand when there was a vacancy. |
| 'Free, fair and green' | 'Free, fair and green' |
| 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. | 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. |
| But he is eager to see attention focused onto policies which he claims are distinctive. | But he is eager to see attention focused onto policies which he claims are distinctive. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 In full: Sir Menzies' speech | 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 In full: Sir Menzies' speech |
| In his speech, Sir Menzies said: "That is a consensus that we alone can break. That we must break. | In his speech, Sir Menzies said: "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." |
| 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. | 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." | "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' | 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? | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Have some guts and takle the real issues we face, not the easy option Claire Herbert, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Have some guts and takle the real issues we face, not the easy option Claire Herbert, London Send us your comments |
| "Should they trust the Labour and Conservative MPs who voted for the war in Iraq? | "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." | "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". | 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. | "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. | 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. |