Sollitt welcomes Campbell as new Lib Dem Leader

8.18.11pm GMT Thu 2nd Mar 2006

Sir Menzies Campbell, Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Steve Sollitt, Liberal Democrat Campaigner for Southampton Test, has welcomed the election of Sir Menzies Campbell as leader of the Liberal Democrats

Steve said " Sir Menzies will be a strong voice for the Party at a time when both Labour and the Tories are showing little direction. I welcome his election as leader"

Sir Menzies Campbell said in his acceptance speech

"The Liberal Democrats are a party that embraces new ideas, that cherishes our principles, and that refuses to sacrifice our values for convenience.

Tony Blair has squeezed values out of politics. Under New Labour, politics has become managerial and not inspirational.

David Cameron has taken the same course, shunning conviction and desperate only to copy the value-free managerialism of Mr Blair's Number 10.

Britain does not need a third managerial party. It needs a distinctive liberal democratic party. I believe that a modern Liberal Democrat party is better placed than any other to understand and address the most pressing challenges of our time.

The overbearing centralisation of public life in Britain, which has led to a pervasive feeling of individual powerlessness, and to public services which still fail too many of the people they are supposed to serve.

The absence of social justice, with persistent levels of poverty and social immobility, and a tax system still biased against the poor and the disturbing effects of globalisation and the urgent need to rebuild confidence in the international rule of law; the threat of catastrophic environmental degradation.

These are the urgent challenges of our times."