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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Liberal Democrat leader resigns | Liberal Democrat leader resigns |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Sir Menzies Campbell has resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats, "with immediate effect". | Sir Menzies Campbell has resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats, "with immediate effect". |
| Senior Lib Dems Vincent Cable and Simon Hughes made the announcement, saying the party owed Sir Menzies "a huge debt of gratitude". | Senior Lib Dems Vincent Cable and Simon Hughes made the announcement, saying the party owed Sir Menzies "a huge debt of gratitude". |
| Deputy leader Mr Cable will take over as acting leader for now - a leadership timetable will be announced on Tuesday. | Deputy leader Mr Cable will take over as acting leader for now - a leadership timetable will be announced on Tuesday. |
| Mr Hughes said Sir Menzies had taken the decision in the "interests of the party and of Liberal Democracy". | Mr Hughes said Sir Menzies had taken the decision in the "interests of the party and of Liberal Democracy". |
| Sir Menzies was not present when the announcement was made. | |
| Poll ratings | |
| The BBC understands that, in a private meeting with Lib Dem members, he said that he did not believe he could turn around his and the party's current poor poll ratings. | |
| He indicated that now it was clear that there would be no election for many months he wanted to give his successor time to bed in before the election. | He indicated that now it was clear that there would be no election for many months he wanted to give his successor time to bed in before the election. |
| Ming has earned the gratitude, the respect and the affection of our party Vincent CableDeputy leader | |
| Party president Mr Hughes said Sir Menzies had brought "purpose and stability" to the party since he took over as leader, after Charles Kennedy quit in January 2006. | |
| He added that he had put in place the preparations for the next general election "whenever it comes". | He added that he had put in place the preparations for the next general election "whenever it comes". |
| Speculation has been growing about the Lib Dem leadership, particularly since Prime Minister Gordon Brown decided not to call an early general election - and indicated he may not do so until 2009 at the earliest. | Speculation has been growing about the Lib Dem leadership, particularly since Prime Minister Gordon Brown decided not to call an early general election - and indicated he may not do so until 2009 at the earliest. |
| But a spokeswoman for Sir Menzies said he had made the decision to stand down himself and had handed his resignation letter to the party's president on Monday afternoon. | |
| Media speculation | |
| She said he had stood down in the interests of the party because he did not want the Liberal Democrat message drowned out by media speculation about his future. | |
| Earlier Mr Cable had conceded the party's leadership was "under discussion" but said he did not believe Sir Menzies' job was under threat. | |
| After the announcement he said: "Ming has earned the gratitude, the respect and the affection of our party. | |
| "That was reflected in the warmth with which his speech was received at our conference a few weeks ago." | |
| He added the party would build on his "political legacy" - fighting for social justice and liberal values. | |
| The prime minister has paid tribute to Sir Menzies as a "man of great stature and integrity who has served his party and country with distinction". |