October 17, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 4, 1428

LONDON, Oct 16: The Liberal Democrats party began on Tuesday a hectic search for a new leader to replace Sir Menzies Campbell who resigned from the party post on Monday.

The anti-Iraq war Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1988 by the merger of the Liberal Party and the short-lived Social Democratic Party; the two parties had already been in an alliance for some years prior to this.

The Liberal Democrats are the third largest party in the UK Parliament, behind Labour and the Conservatives, with 63 Members of Parliament. In the last session of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Liberal Democrats formed part of the coalition Scottish Executive with Labour, with the Lib Dems supplying the Deputy First Minister, Nicol Stephen.

Generally promoting social liberalism, the Liberal Democrats as a principle seek to minimise state intervention in personal affairs in the United Kingdom and throughout the world, with many Lib Dem MPs criticising such intervention as symptomatic of a “nanny state”, but unlike some other liberal parties, the Liberal Democrats were not founded on an explicit doctrine of economic liberalism instead favouring combining a commitment to social justice and the welfare state with a belief in economic freedom and competitive markets wherever possible. The party’s Presidential Book of Office, passed between outgoing and incoming presidents, is John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty.

The party is traditionally supportive of a multilateral foreign policy, and opposed British participation in the War in Iraq and now support a swift withdrawal of troops in Iraq by October 2007. They are considered the most pro-European party in British politics.

Since the 2006 Liberal Democrat Party Conference, the party has switched to favour cutting the basic rate of income tax by ‘two pence in the pound’ while proposing raising tax rates on annual earnings above £100,000, a significant alteration of their policy towards fiscal neutrality and away from increasing tax revenue for purposes of redistribution that had previously been considered an “Old Labour” position.

According to the Guardian Liberal Democrat MPs have until Oct 31 to decide whether to stand in the contest, and the successful candidate is expected to be in place before Christmas. Nick Clegg, the party’s home affair’s spokesman, and Chris Huhne, the environment spokesman, have long been considered the frontrunners to replace Sir Menzies.

Mr Clegg fuelled speculation at the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton last month when he admitted he would “probably” throw his hat in the ring if Sir Menzies stood down.

The party president, Simon Hughes, who stood in the two previous leadership contests against Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies, last night ruled himself out of the running.

It is not yet clear who might put themselves forward but Susan Kramer, the party’s transport spokeswoman and former London mayoral candidate, or Julia Goldsworthy, the party’s shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, may be persuaded to join the fray. Other possible leadership contenders include Steve Webb, who is writing the party’s manifesto; Ed Davey, Sir Menzies’ former chief of staff; and David Laws, the party’s spokesman on children, schools and families.

There are even suggestions that grassroots supporters may call for the return of Charles Kennedy, although the former leader’s lack of support within the parliamentary party would make this highly unlikely.

Sir Menzies Campbell, CBE, took over from Charles Kennedy as the leader of the Liberal Democrats in March 2006.

At the time of his appointment, the former Olympic athlete and barrister was seen as a man of respect whom MPs dared not patronise or dismiss.

Sir Menzies, 66, said in his letter of resignation it had “become clear that following the prime minister’s decision not to hold an election, questions about leadership are getting in the way of further progress by the party. Accordingly, I now submit my resignation as leader with immediate effect”.