Unexpectedly, Lib-Dems have become a revitalized party in British politics. Part of their success has been due to the conflict in Iraq.
Third parties tend to struggle; for a start between general elections they get less than their fair share of publicity. The Lib-Dems have been no exception.
The party was formed in 1988 when the old Liberal Party joined up with the new Social Democratic Party. It has been hard pounding for them since with some gains at the subsequent general elections and always a few losses.
Early this year Charles Kennedy, then their popular leader, resigned after admitting to a drink problem, which only a few weeks before he had denied having. Sir Menzies Campbell, known as “Ming” to his friends, won the resulting election for the leadership gaining a decisive 58 percent of the votes cast by the membership. Starting as the favorite, having become acting leader and previously deputy leader, he conducted a cautious campaign which the journalists were inclined to report as dull.
His critics suggested that at 64 he was too old, at a time when the new Conservative Leader, David Cameron, was only 39. Perhaps imprudently, Sir Menzies promised to stand again for the leadership after the next general election.
There is an obvious and able successor in the wings called Nick Clegg, who just needs a little more experience in the House of Commons. Of his victory The Daily Telegraph wrote:
“Sir Menzies won the leadership of the Lib-Democrats because he seemed to embody the qualities of decency and authenticity that the party urgently needs to project.”
It is beginning to dawn on the political commentators that the Lib-Dems are in the strongest position for many years. In February they had a spectacular byelection victory in Dunfermline and West Fife defeating the Labour candidate. They now have 63 MPs in the House of Commons, and at the last two general elections their parliamentary party filled up with a number of young and exceptionally able MPs.
The chances of a hung Parliament at the next general election are now very considerable.
The Labour Party only needs to lose one percent of the vote to the Conservatives to also lose its majority. The Conservatives, on the other hand, would require a massive swing of 11 percent against Labour to get a majority. I expect the Lib-Dems will gain seats from the two bigger parties, and will be in a position to decide which one they will support in a coalition government.
Sir Menzies was educated at Glasgow University and Stanford University in California. As an outstanding sprinter, he took part in the Tokyo Olympics. He was selected to be the captain of the United Kingdom Athletics Team for two years. He became a leading lawyer in Scotland and won his Fife North East seat in 1987. It includes the famous St Andrew University and golf course. He is a good friend of the Arab world and was chairman of the Lib-Dem Middle East Council.
As his party’s shadow foreign secretary he was renowned as a formidable critic of the war in Iraq. In The Observer last November he wrote:
“We proudly proclaim the merits of the trans-Atlantic alliance. Why then have we been so quiet and so ineffective, while the US-led coalition has blundered in Iraq? The British people are entitled to ask hard questions of our political leaders and they are entitled to answers.”
I am sure the public share such views. At the last general election in May the Liberals gained support for their firm and principled opposition to the Iraqi war, as both the Labour and Conservative parties officially supported it.
In his first few days as leader he acted fast and decisively. He propelled young and talented MPs into top jobs and also advanced a number of women MPs.
This slightly unusual combination of an older but highly respected leader with a youthful and bright team has considerable attractions.
The Lib-Dems, in the battle for the center ground, claim the two main parties offer only different styles of management. Prime Minister Tony Blair has used the slogan “What matters is what works.” David Cameron has proclaimed he is the natural successor to Tony Blair — a curious line to take when the prime minister is much mistrusted. The Lib-Dems claim they are a radical party of principle.
Sir Menzies wants to both modernize his party and give the public a much clearer idea of what it stands for today. He will back those who seek to promote free markets and encourage competition, while also declaring war on poverty at home as well as abroad. A particular personal goal will be to restore confidence in international institutions and international law after the events of recent years.
