There was not the slightest doubt in my mind that Ming Campbell was done for as leader of the Lib Dems. My weekend predictive post of 'Goodbye Ming' came to pass a little more quickly than I expected. But today's newspapers had Vince Cable declaring that Ming's position was "under discussion". And then to hammer in the final nail, I read on Iain Dale's blog that Lembit Opik had been making supportive comments about Ming. Game over.
This is a seriously messy resignation. Unusually it takes effect immediately. Ming was not even prepared to make the announcement himself. Simon Hughes and Vince Cable did that. My guess is that there has been a blazing row between Ming and Vince Cable, who looks to have been the wielder of the knife. Simon Hughes, who has been publicly undermining Ming has probably been party to the political assassination as well. You've got to hand it to the Lib Dems. They really do treachery better than anyone else.
So who will take over. From a personal interest perspective, I hope its Chris Huhne, who has always seemed a bit too smarmy to my taste. Nick Clegg looks the part, and could be a bit of a threat to us because he is so 'conservative' in outlook. But what's the betting on Charles Kennedy coming back. Now that would be a serious threat to us. Perhaps we are in for a bloodbath. I can but hope.
6 comments:
The Liberals have always had the best ideas.
They are a party of ideas, not a party of government.
They are useful in opposition but their ideas are usually filched by the two main parties who declare them to be their own.
They are idealists in an age of ugly realism.
They deserve our sympathy.
Bring back Jo Grimond!
The world waits with bated breath to discover who will be the next victim of Lembo's infamous kiss of death
I might have a few quid on the candidate that Lembit doesn't back!!
Alan - there is no such thing as a completely new idea - they are always recycled from somewhere. During the last two years, almost every idea imaginable has emerged from our policy groups. Ming is a real gent and does have my sympathy
Ordo and Part timer - it is bizarre how often his public support has preceded the collapse of a candidature. I'm just hoping he will back Clegg, who looks the most likely to be electable to me.
Don't rule out Steve Webb.
- Frank Little
Frank - I agree that Steve Webb will be a credible candidate, but Clegg or Huhne will win.
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