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Lib Dem leader 'has to do better' Sir Menzies hits back at critics
(about 7 hours later)
Sir Menzies Campbell could "do better" as Liberal Democrat leader, party president Simon Hughes has said. Sir Menzies Campbell has hit out at "idle chatter" from within his party about his performance.
In an interview with GMTV to be shown on Sunday, Mr Hughes said Sir Menzies had "improved considerably" after what he described as "not a great" start. The Liberal Democrat leader used a speech to grassroots supporters to restate his vow to lead the party into the next general election.
The party leader had "to do better all the time", added Mr Hughes, and he was "confident" Sir Menzies would do that. He downplayed a warning by Lib Dem president Simon Hughes that he must raise his game, declaring: "We must all raise our game."
Sir Menzies' spokesman said he was "not concerned" about Mr Hughes' remarks and did not think he was being disloyal. Sir Menzies also denied his party was being squeezed out by the Tories.
"Simon is loyal as a loyal thing," said Sir Menzies' aide but added that the remarks were "unguarded" in the current political atmosphere. 'Dissident'
He said Mr Hughes "genuinely meant well" but recognised that "we've all got to do better, individually and collectively". He told the BBC: "The Liberal Democrats are well known for their willingness to express themselves - nothing new. What I do is get on with the job. That's the most important thing to do."
'Confident' We must all ensure that the free fair and green society which is essential for the future of the people of Great Britain lies right at the very top of our political agenda on every possible occasion Sir Menzies Campbell
In the GMTV interview, Mr Hughes, whose campaign for the party leadership last year was derailed by revelations about his private life, was asked about the party leadership. Asked for his message for Mr Hughes, he replied: "Message to every Liberal Democrat: we must all raise our game.
"The leadership is always an issue in all of the parties, we live in a presidential system and therefore the leader has to continually do well and better and he had a good conference," he said. "We must all ensure that the free fair and green society which is essential for the future of the people of Great Britain lies right at the very top of our political agenda on every possible occasion."
"He did a very good speech, it was meant to be the best conference speech he's made since being leader, and Ming knows that and there's no sign that he's not up for that as a task." But his fightback came as a poll found half of Liberal Democrat voters in crucial marginal seats believe Gordon Brown or David Cameron would make a better prime minister.
Asked if that meant Sir Menzies had to do better, Mr Hughes said: "Well, of course, because he started, everybody accepts that it wasn't a great start, that he's improved considerably. A survey for The Daily Telegraph across 112 marginal seats held by Labour and the Lib Dems suggests only a quarter of those who intend to vote for his party would want him in Number 10.
"This conference speech went really well and he knows all the time that the party has to do better, that's my job, collectively, and the leader obviously has to do better, get better at getting the message across, better at getting the policy, out better at making sure that out there people understand that Labour and Tory are often the same on policy, we offer a difference. Addressing his party's eastern region conference in Suffolk, Sir Menzies said: "I want to tell you that I have the energy, the ideas and the determination to lead this party into the next general election and beyond.
"Now, he will do that, I'm confident he'll do that." Leadership
The Lib Dems' conference week in Brighton was overshadowed by speculation - denied by all concerned - about possible leadership bids by environment spokesman Chris Huhne and home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg. "We will campaign on the issues that matter to people - climate change, council tax, tuition fees and free long-term care for the elderly, and Iraq.
Sir Menzies' spokesman tried to play down newspaper stories that senior Lib Dems are unhappy with the current leadership - and that Gordon Brown's decision not to hold an early election meant Sir Menzies would face a leadership challenge. "These are things that matter to people - not the idle chatter of the occasional dissident."
He described the latest reports as "mutterings, not a putative coup". He insisted the Lib Dems were making progress in by-elections, adding: "They tell us that David Cameron's Conservatives are on the march. But I say that here in the east of England we are able to show otherwise."
Mr Hughes, who fought Sir Menzies in the last leadership contest, told GMTV: "The leader obviously has to do better, get better at getting the message across better, at getting the policy out better."
The Lib Dems' Brighton conference in Brighton was overshadowed by speculation about possible leadership bids by environment spokesman Chris Huhne and home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg.
Both have both ruled out standing against their leader but the PM's decision not to hold an early election has led to fresh conjecture that Sir Menzies will face a challenge.