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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dem candidates call on Clegg to step down | Lib Dem candidates call on Clegg to step down |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two Lib Dem parliamentary candidates in key swing seats have called on party leader Nick Clegg to step down. | Two Lib Dem parliamentary candidates in key swing seats have called on party leader Nick Clegg to step down. |
| Jackie Porter, who is hoping to become MP for Winchester, said that after another poor local election showing, it was time to act in the party's best interests. | Jackie Porter, who is hoping to become MP for Winchester, said that after another poor local election showing, it was time to act in the party's best interests. |
| West Dorset candidate Ros Kayes said the public had lost trust in Mr Clegg. | |
| But a party spokesman said its message should not be "distorted by needless infighting". | |
| Both Winchester and West Dorset are currently held by the Conservatives but are seen as winnable. | |
| Ms Porter - a Lib Dem county councillor - told the BBC: "It feels like the king is dead long live the king. | Ms Porter - a Lib Dem county councillor - told the BBC: "It feels like the king is dead long live the king. |
| "We have to make decisions to save the party not the person." | "We have to make decisions to save the party not the person." |
| She has signed a petition calling on Mr Clegg to stand down so a new leader can be chosen in the summer. The Lib Dems lost Winchester at the last election. | She has signed a petition calling on Mr Clegg to stand down so a new leader can be chosen in the summer. The Lib Dems lost Winchester at the last election. |
| 'Remarkably disciplined' | 'Remarkably disciplined' |
| Mr Clegg's party suffered another bad night at the polls in the English local elections on Thursday. | Mr Clegg's party suffered another bad night at the polls in the English local elections on Thursday. |
| It lost more than 300 councillors and in the wards last contested before the coalition was formed in 2010, it was 14% down. | It lost more than 300 councillors and in the wards last contested before the coalition was formed in 2010, it was 14% down. |
| Until now, despite suffering loss after loss, the party's MPs have been remarkably disciplined. | Until now, despite suffering loss after loss, the party's MPs have been remarkably disciplined. |
| But in the wake of Thursday's results, one has given the gravest warning yet about Mr Clegg's future. | But in the wake of Thursday's results, one has given the gravest warning yet about Mr Clegg's future. |
| John Pugh told the BBC he had canvassed more than a dozen backbenchers. | John Pugh told the BBC he had canvassed more than a dozen backbenchers. |
| "The high command is in danger of seeming like generals at the Somme - repeatedly sending others over the top while being safely ensconced in Westminster and claiming the carnage is all somehow sadly inevitable," he said. | "The high command is in danger of seeming like generals at the Somme - repeatedly sending others over the top while being safely ensconced in Westminster and claiming the carnage is all somehow sadly inevitable," he said. |
| The time had passed, he added, for a policy of "misguided stoicism". | The time had passed, he added, for a policy of "misguided stoicism". |
| 'Always disappointing' | |
| Although falling short of demanding his leader stand down, Mr Pugh said MPs would now "review" the election performance, putting the "wider party and country first". | Although falling short of demanding his leader stand down, Mr Pugh said MPs would now "review" the election performance, putting the "wider party and country first". |
| "Our good results are mostly the product of local popularity," he said. | "Our good results are mostly the product of local popularity," he said. |
| "The abysmal loss of well over half our seats last Thursday though is mostly due to national unpopularity." | "The abysmal loss of well over half our seats last Thursday though is mostly due to national unpopularity." |
| A Lib Dem spokesman said it was right to take the concerns seriously. | |
| But he added: "We always knew these elections would be tough and it is always disappointing when valued, hard working and dedicated councillors lose their seats." | |
| Senior party figures were "proud" of the party's campaign, he said. | |
| "Nick Clegg stood up for our core values, made the positive case for Britain's place in Europe, and took on Nigel Farage's divisive politics. | |
| "Now is a time to get our message across, and shout what we're doing in government, and not get distorted by needless infighting." |