Lib Dem contenders await leadership result
-02/03/06
The new leader of the Liberal Dem
Lib Dem contenders await leadership result
-02/03/06
The new leader of the Liberal Democrats is set to be announced today, following a ballot of the party’s 73,000 members.
As voting closed on Tuesday, bookmakers were putting Menzies Campbell a fraction ahead of Chris Huhne, with Simon Hughes, well known amongst the churches for his Christian faith, trailing some way behind in the odds.
However all three candidates insist they can win following a month of campaigning.
The count begins at 0900 GMT with Lord Dholakia, the Lib Dems’ deputy leader in the Lords, due to declare the winner shortly after 1500 GMT.
The winner’s first job will be to open the party’s spring conference which begins in Harrogate on Friday.
Over the last few years, Christian voices have been more identifiable within the party, with the formation of the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF), mirroring Christian groupings within the other big parties – the Christian Socialist Movement and the Conservative Christian Fellowship.
The Liberal Democrat Christian Forum will be holding a high profile fringe meeting at this years conference: ‘The Respect Agenda: What Approach?’ with speakers, Alistair Carmichael MP (Shadow Home Secretary) and Tim Farron MP.
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Lord Tyler and Andrew Stunnell will also be addressing other events they have organised.
Christian leadership contender Mr Hughes’, known as a radical, took a battering during the leadership campaign after he admitted that he had been in homosexual relationships.
It also came after he publicly apologised for the way that his 1983 by-election campaign was run against gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
Since his entry into Parliament Hughes has consistently voted in favour of adoption by gay couples, an equalisation of the age of consent for gay and lesbian activity, and civil partnerships.,
In a last ditch attempt to sway undecided Lib Dem voters, the three candidates appeared together on BBC Two’s Daily Politics show.
Mr Huhne, 51, said his plans to cut income tax for the lowest earners – which would cost £21bn – could partially be offset by increasing “green” taxes.
Sir Menzies, 64, called for a written constitution for the UK and stressed his “experience” and “judgement”.
And Mr Hughes, 54, reiterated his demand for a timetable for British troops to withdraw from Iraq.
Lib Dem officials will be hoping a new leader and a spring conference will herald a new start for the party, which has been reeling from months of bad headlines.
The contest began on 7 January when Charles Kennedy resigned after admitting he had a drink problem.
Sir Menzies, the party’s foreign affairs spokesman, took over the reins as acting deputy leader and threw his hat into the ring for the top job.
But any hopes that his candidacy would be unopposed were dashed when the party’s home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten, party president Mr Hughes and treasury spokesman Mr Huhne also joined the race.
Mr Oaten quickly quit the contest following a lack of support by MPs and then stepped down from his frontbench job after newspaper reports of an affair with a male prostitute.
Mr Huhne, who was only elected nine months ago and started out as a relative unknown, has recently been neck and neck with Sir Menzies in the betting.
Lib Dem contenders await leadership result
-02/03/06
The new leader of the Liberal Democrats is set to be announced today, following a ballot of the party’s 73,000 members.
As voting closed on Tuesday, bookmakers were putting Menzies Campbell a fraction ahead of Chris Huhne, with Simon Hughes, well known amongst the churches for his Christian faith, trailing some way behind in the odds.
However all three candidates insist they can win following a month of campaigning.
The count begins at 0900 GMT with Lord Dholakia, the Lib Dems’ deputy leader in the Lords, due to declare the winner shortly after 1500 GMT.
The winner’s first job will be to open the party’s spring conference which begins in Harrogate on Friday.
Over the last few years, Christian voices have been more identifiable within the party, with the formation of the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF), mirroring Christian groupings within the other big parties – the Christian Socialist Movement and the Conservative Christian Fellowship.
The Liberal Democrat Christian Forum will be holding a high profile fringe meeting at this years conference: ‘The Respect Agenda: What Approach?’ with speakers, Alistair Carmichael MP (Shadow Home Secretary) and Tim Farron MP.
Related Articles
Lord Tyler and Andrew Stunnell will also be addressing other events they have organised.
Christian leadership contender Mr Hughes’, known as a radical, took a battering during the leadership campaign after he admitted that he had been in homosexual relationships.
It also came after he publicly apologised for the way that his 1983 by-election campaign was run against gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
Since his entry into Parliament Hughes has consistently voted in favour of adoption by gay couples, an equalisation of the age of consent for gay and lesbian activity, and civil partnerships.,
In a last ditch attempt to sway undecided Lib Dem voters, the three candidates appeared together on BBC Two’s Daily Politics show.
Mr Huhne, 51, said his plans to cut income tax for the lowest earners – which would cost £21bn – could partially be offset by increasing “green” taxes.
Sir Menzies, 64, called for a written constitution for the UK and stressed his “experience” and “judgement”.
And Mr Hughes, 54, reiterated his demand for a timetable for British troops to withdraw from Iraq.
Lib Dem officials will be hoping a new leader and a spring conference will herald a new start for the party, which has been reeling from months of bad headlines.
The contest began on 7 January when Charles Kennedy resigned after admitting he had a drink problem.
Sir Menzies, the party’s foreign affairs spokesman, took over the reins as acting deputy leader and threw his hat into the ring for the top job.
But any hopes that his candidacy would be unopposed were dashed when the party’s home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten, party president Mr Hughes and treasury spokesman Mr Huhne also joined the race.
Mr Oaten quickly quit the contest following a lack of support by MPs and then stepped down from his frontbench job after newspaper reports of an affair with a male prostitute.
Mr Huhne, who was only elected nine months ago and started out as a relative unknown, has recently been neck and neck with Sir Menzies in the betting.