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azzuri
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Sir Menzies wins Lib Dem contest.......see - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4763646.stm
Sir Menzies wins Lib Dem contest.......
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Sir Menzies Campbell has been elected leader of the Liberal Democrat Party.
Sir Menzies, 64, who was Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman and acting leader, topped a ballot of party members after a five week campaign.
He beat economic affairs spokesman Chris Huhne in the final run off. Party President Simon Hughes came third.
Sir Menzies, who got 57% of the vote, said he was ready to take risks to "modernise" the party and lead it "back to government".
'Safe hands'
The new leader of the UK's third party, which won 22% of the vote in the 2005 General Election, said his election was a "victory for all Liberal Democrats".
In his victory speech he pledged to fight for fairness, freedom and environmental protection.
But he added: "Let me make it clear now that caution and consolidation will not do.
"Safe pair of hands yes, but ready to take risks, ready to challenge orthodoxy and ready to challenge the party too."
He added: "Our task now is this: To build a strong, effective powerful Liberal Democrat party with the objective to ensuring a greener, fairer, decentralised and democratic Britain, a Britain at peace with itself at home and admired abroad."
Sir Menzies' age has been an issue during the campaign, but he told the BBC last week that he could see no reason why he could not be leader aged 72 - which would allow him to fight two general elections.
His first challenge as party leader will be to rally activists at the party's spring conference in Harrogate at the weekend.
'Good-tempered'
Both defeated candidates pledged their support to Sir Menzies.
Mr Huhne said the new leader had a "hard-won and decisive mandate to lead this party to new advances with the backing of all of us".
He said the "thoughtful and good-tempered contest" had shown the party was the most united in Britain around the key issues.
Party members had made "the right decision", he conceded.
"Collective wisdom is often so much greater than individual wisdom and Ming has undoubted authority, experience and credibility.
"I look forward to being a part of his team taking us to greater success."
'Determined'
He told BBC News 24 he did not regard Sir Menzies as a "caretaker" leader and that he could fight two general elections.
Mr Hughes, was eliminated in the first round of voting after coming third with 12,081, said: "I am absolutely clear that this party has a great future.
"I am absolutely clear that liberal democracy has a great future; and I am absolutely clear that we will go, Ming, under your leadership from strength to strength towards the government that Britain desperately needs and that we are all so unitedly determined to achieve."
The voting system used for the election meant that after the first round, Mr Hughes' backers' second choices were transferred to Sir Menzies or Mr Huhne.
FIRST ROUND Voting
Sir Menzies Campbell - 23,264
Chris Huhne - 16,691
Simon Hughes - 12,081
SECOND ROUND Voting
Sir Menzies Campbell - 29,697
Chris Huhne - 21,628
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Interesting Result. I never really thought Huhne would win - but an interesting result nonetheless. Don't know how it will affect the Lib Dems, but I'm still sticking with my prediction of a Hung Parliament in Westminster at the next GE. Don't think Cameron has enough for a landslide but both they and the Lib Dems will make a lot of gains from Labour. I envisage a Cons/Lib Dems coalition next time around - god only knows what effect this will have on the Lib Dem vote in Scotland.
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Morph
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well RS with affiliation to the tories this may put of voters in the north which would then mean more gain for the SNP. Which can be a good thing if you are an SNP man like yourself
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