Campbell drops Lib Dems' insistence on electoral reform
Monday, 5 March 2007
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Sir Menzies Campbell yesterday laid down his five key tests for a possible future pact with Gordon Brown as he gave his clearest indication yet that he would enter talks with Labour in the event of a hung Parliament.
But the party was in a state of confusion over its commitment to proportional representation as a vital part of any pact after a senior official said that voting reform would not be a "deal breaker" in any negotiations with a Labour government.
Sir Menzies told activists at the Liberal Democrats' spring conference yesterday that the party's "ambition" remained to create "a government elected by a system where every vote counts". But his "five tests" for a Gordon Brown premiership did not include electoral reform. Instead, they covered scrapping ID cards; tackling climate change; combating poverty; devolving power to local communities; and distancing foreign policy from Washington.
A senior party figure said moving to proportional representation "is not a deal maker or a deal breaker", acknowledging that the party had shifted its tactics away from electoral reform being a prerequisite for any deal in a hung parliament.
Another senior source insisted that the party had not dropped its historic desire for voting reform. But he said: "We don't say we won't pick up the telephone unless we have a single transferable vote for Westminster. If Brown is proposing 30 things we strongly agree with, we are going to support them."
However, Sir Menzies' aides furiously denied that he had dropped his insistence on proportional representation, arguing that electoral reform was still a hugely significant issue for the party.
They refused to discuss entering a formal coalition with Mr Brown, but indicated that they could co- operate with Labour in the event of a hung parliament.
Sir Menzies strongly indicated that he would not contemplate an electoral pact with the Conservatives and launched a personal attack on the party's leader, David Cameron.
Aides said the tests represented "indicators of values" that would determine whether the Liberal Democrats would work with a future Labour administration.
In his speech, Sir Menzies repeatedly made it clear that he wanted the party to have a role in government, insisting that Liberal Democrats "are not a pressure group, we are a party of influence and power".
He told delegates: "I tell you this now. I'm not content to lead a party whose sole purpose is opposition. Our clear direction must be government."
Outlining his tests for Mr Brown, Sir Menzies declared: "Britain needs a government that is prepared to reduce inequality. Britain needs a government that will uphold the rule of law.
"Britain needs a government that will preserve our traditional freedoms. Britain needs a government that will take on the challenge of climate change. And Britain needs a government that will restore our international reputation.
"The question is - can Gordon Brown meet that challenge? Does he have the courage to take Britain in a new direction? Is he the man to create the liberal and democratic Britain that we need?"
He added: "These are the five tests for Mr Brown if he is going to make the change of direction that Britain needs. And if he meets these five tests, he will have changed direction. He will have changed direction, and embraced liberal democracy."
Sir Menzies took a personal swipe at Mr Cameron, arguing: "Are the Conservatives up to this same challenge? Of course not." He said: "It's not your youthful indiscretions that worry me - it's your adult misjudgements. Teenage kicks are one thing, but you've got to grow up some time. It's time you admitted your mistakes, particularly your support for the Iraq war."
