Campbell: Lib Dems will rattle the cage of British politics

4.25.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st Sep 2007

Ming at the Liberal Democrat Conference

In his leader's speech Menzies Campbell has attacked the cosy consensus between Labour and the Conservatives and committed the Liberal Democrats to rattling the cage of British politics:

"[O]n so many of the major political issues there is a two-party consensus - comfortable, cosy and complacent. On the environment, taxes, pensions, nuclear power, tuition fees, Iraq."

He launched a sustained attack on Gordon Brown's record, arguing that despite all the talk of change very little has actually changed:

"Brown hasn't taken the tough decisions to tackle climate change, he hasn't scrapped ID cards, he hasn't brought the troops home from Iraq.

"As Chancellor over the last ten years with unparalleled influence over government, he has to take responsibility for the Government's policy mistakes on issues such as: Iraq, civil liberties, the environment, nuclear power, council tax, and student fees."

Sir Menzies set out a personal credo influenced by his experience over the last year visiting some of the most disadvantaged people in Britain.

He set out how, under his leadership, the Liberal Democrats will confront the difficult issues and take the tough decisions that are necessary to create a country that is free, fair and green.

He also proposed a new initiative for constitutional environment rights drawing on examples such as Spain where the citizen's environmental rights are guaranteed in the constitution.