Alan Beith and Berwick Lib Dems welcome Ming Campbell's speech

2.45.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 6th Mar 2006

Alan Beith MP and party members from the Berwick-upon-Tweed Liberal Democrats have welcomed Ming Campbell's challenge to the party to work for a "greener, fairer, democratic and decentralized Britain."

Speaking after the Harrogate Conference, Alan Beith said

"Ming Campbell has the experience and leadership necessary to help our party achieve even more success in the coming years. He speaks with intelligence and passion and will continue to hold the Labour government to account over issues such as the war in Iraq, the state of our public services and their attacks on our civil liberties.

"Ming said, and I agree, that our country does not need a third managerial party, in the mould of Labour and the Conservatives. Ming is committed to liberal principles, as am I, and I'm looking forward to working with him and the rest of my colleagues in the Liberal Democrats."

Chair of the Northern Region Liberal Democrats, Eileen Blakey, added

Alan and Ming look forward to working together.

"We knew this would be an excellent conference, not least because of the good-natured and intelligent leadership campaign which preceded Ming's election as Leader. Ming has made commitments to helping women, the disabled and people from our ethnic minorities achieve more in politics. We're working to improve equality of opportunity, of aspiration and ambition, and promote a fairer society, and I'm proud of that."