Derek Deedman

Nick Clegg has launched his leadership bid urging the Liberal Democrats to be ‘bolder’, insisting it was time to ‘look to the future’. Mr Clegg joins colleague Chris Huhne, who announced his candidacy in London on Wednesday. Mr Clegg signalled his intention to stand at a launch in his Sheffield constituency this morning, saying: “If the Liberal Democrats are to change the tired old pattern of British politics, we are going to have to be bolder. We are going to have to move out of our comfort zone. We cannot test the patience of the British people any longer. We must now make a long term commitment to British Liberalism. The Liberal Democrats now have the opportunity, once and for all, to break the stifling grip of two-party politics … and give a voice to the millions of people who don’t feel they have a voice in British politics at all.” [Guardian – Clegg launch] [BBC – Huhne launch]

Derek Deedman, Chairman of Arundel & South Downs Liberal Democrats, welcomed the contest between the two leading front-bench MPs. He said it was very sad that Sir Ming Campbell had stood down as Leader, but despite the major investment in communications staff under his leadership, the media ignored the Lib Dem position on current affairs and its radical policies and had only been interested in Ming’s age and how old he looked. Derek continued, “I find it extremely frustrating that so many people do not know where the Lib Dems stand on so many contentious issues, and yet we have radical policies to tackle the many challenges Britain faces today. I will be backing the leadership candidate who convinces me that they have the answer to overcoming the effective media blackout on those policies, and will be able to ensure that the public know the Lib Dem position on the major issues of the day.”