‘With age, comes experience’, insists Campbell

Campbell fights back at critics, arguing his age gives him advantage over Brown and Cameron.

Thursday, 20, Sep 2007 12:00

Menzies Campbell today hit back at Gordon Brown, claiming his legacy is already one of illiberalism and mishandling of the economy.

In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat conference, Sir Menzies said the prime minister had failed in his promise to bring change to Westminster.

And he said David Cameron would not offer any real alternative, accusing Labour and the Conservatives of colluding in a "comfortable, cosy and complacent consensus".

Sir Menzies presented the Liberal Democrats as the only real alternative in British politics, fighting "one against two" to deliver opportunity and freedom.

He said: "We alone are prepared to break the cosy consensus of British politics and face up to the challenges confronting our society".

Mr Brown had not offered a real change of politics over ID cards, Iraq, nuclear energy, council tax and more, the Lib Dem leader said.

Sir Menzies told delegates in Brighton: "Gordon Brown spent the last decade wanting to move into Number 10.

"But the most extraordinary thing he has done since he finally got the job is to praise Margaret Thatcher."

Sir Menzies blocked Mr Brown's attempts to distance himself from his predecessor's unpopularity by arguing the chancellor had "unparalleled influence" over decisions made under Tony Blair.

He attacked Labour’s failure to raise green taxes, block the expensive ID cards scheme or resist Iraq.

As chancellor, Mr Brown should also be held to account for the "smash and grab" on private pensions, rise in home repossessions and £1.3 trillion in personal debt, the Lib Dem leader said.

Sir Menzies said: "With a record like that it is no wonder the prime minister wants to start afresh.

"New Labour remains blue Labour."

He said David Cameron was "not fit to govern" and insisted the Conservatives offered no alternative to the government's politics.

As the Conservatives seek to wrest the initiative on the environment and social issues, Sir Menzies attacked Mr Cameron for trying to talk about a "broken society" when it was Thatcher's policies that had "widened inequalities and shattered social cohesion."

Following a summer of contradictory policy statements from the Conservatives, the Lib Dem leader said the party was suffering from an identity crisis.

He said: "When they meet a hoodie, they do not know whether to hug 'em – or hang 'em."

Sir Menzies has spent the week insisting he is "relaxed" about the leadership question but today tackled it head on.

The 66-year-old politician vowed to "make age a factor" in the next election.

He insisted: "With age comes experience, and with experience comes judgement.

"And when you are deciding whether to send our young men and women to war, it pays to have that experience and it pays to have that judgement."

Sir Menzies said he would remain as leader into the next election and said he would lead with "energy, ambition and determination."

As Liberal Democrat leader he promised to foster a "competition of ideas" and be the "voice of those who are not heard."

Praising the five giants that had founded the welfare state, he called for five freedoms of opportunity, good health, personal security, prosperity for all and a clean environment.

To support this he argued for an environmental bill of rights, where the protection of the environment is placed at the heart of the constitution. This would guarantee every citizen the right to clean water, pure air and unpolluted land, he said.