LIBDEMS ON COURSE

by MONITOR
THE Liberal Democrats, and their leader Menzies Campbell especially, have reason to feel pleased with the outcome of their annual conference which ended in Brighton yesterday. The party demonstrated its distinctiveness at a time that Labour, at least under Mr Blair, and the Conservatives seem to be moving ever-closer in their policies. Mr Campbell, who is not and never will be a charismatic speech-maker, showed that there are other qualities which contribute to leadership. He will be wise to emphasize these and not allow his party's spin-doctors to try to make him over into something he cannot, and should not, be.
If there was any unease during the week it was probably over Charles Kennedy's highly visible return to the party and the tone of his speech. Paddy Ashdown said rather pointedly: “The perfect ex-leader's speech does two things: it says goodbye to the party; and it does not take the spotlight from his successor. I think Charles succeeded in both things very well.” Some observers thought that Lord Ashdown had his tongue firmly in his cheek. Mr Kennedy did not sound like a man saying goodbye and his speech was too long. The last thing that the Liberal Democrats want is another leadership contest in the near future. Ming Campbell has done enough to believe that he should lead the party at the next election. And if there is a hung parliament his party may be closer to government than it has been for a very long time.