Clegg named new Lib Dem leader
Tuesday, 18 December 2007 12:00 AM
Nick Clegg was today named the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.
The 40-year-old MP for Sheffield Hallam replaces Sir Menzes Campbell as leader of the Liberal Democrats after beating Chris Huhne in a closely-fought leadership race.
'Team Clegg' had originally tipped Mr Clegg to win the vote on a 60:40 split.
Today's result, however, failed to return a strong mandate for the former home affairs spokesman. Of the 41,465 votes cast 20,988 were for Mr Clegg and 20,477 for Mr Huhne.
Accepting the leadership, Mr Clegg said he had one ambition: "To change Britain to make it the liberal country I believe people want it to be."
He promised a "liberal alternative to the discredited politics of big government", with a series of measures designed to open up politics, including regular town hall-style meetings.
Although Mr Clegg entered the two-man contest as the pundits' favourite, Mr Huhne's popularity among the party's grassroots caused his team concern.
Mr Huhne, Lib Dem environment spokesman but now certain to fall victim to a reshuffle, was widely regarded to have fought the better campaign - marred only by the damaging release of a dossier on Calamity Clegg, which outlined his rival's supposed flaws.
But today it was confirmed the younger candidate, who has frequently been likened to David Cameron, will become the Liberal Democrats' third leader in as many years.
Mr Clegg sought to draw a line under his dispute with Mr Huhne, saying they could now return to being colleagues rather than rivals.
Accusing the Conservatives and Labour of "mutating into each other", Mr Clegg insisted the Liberal Democrats could offer an alternative, new style of politics, promising the beginning of "Britain's liberal future".
Today's announcement marks the culmination of a two-month leadership contest, sparked by Sir Menzies Campbell's resignation two months ago.
Sir Menzies had been widely expected to lead the Liberal Democrats into the next general election before stepping aside to make way for a younger leader.
However, by the time of the party's annual conference in Brighton it had become apparent the leadership question risked overshadowing the party and the 66-year-old stood down in October, citing the media's preoccupation with his age.
The need for a more dynamic replacement has been widely regarded as the main factor preventing Vince Cable, the party's deputy leader, from contesting the top job.
However, his well-received appearances in the House of Commons, as well as competency in debating the recent turmoil in the financial markets, has led many commentators to crown him the best leader the party never had.
Mr Clegg will come under pressure to prove he can match Mr Cable's performances in prime minister's questions when the House of Commons returns in the new year.
Today he praised Mr Cable's "spellbinding" leadership, saying he had excelled as an "economist, wit and ballroom dancer".
Throughout his campaign Mr Clegg has used his position as home affairs spokesman to attack the government's record on civil liberties, as well as highlighting the blunders that have beset Jacqui Smith's Home Office.
Educated at Westminster school and Cambridge University, Mr Clegg worked in Europe before serving as an MEP. He entered parliament in 2005 as MP for a leafy suburb of Sheffield.
As leader, Mr Clegg has pledged to oppose the introduction of ID cards, claiming he will refuse to register when the cards become mandatory for UK citizens.
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