A distinctive and liberal democratic party

7.51.47pm GMT Thu 2nd Mar 2006

Ming Campbell spoke on the task ahead, after being elected as the new Liberal Democrat Leader in succession to Charles Kennedy. "The Liberal Democrats are a party that embraces new ideas, that cherishes our principles, and that refuses to sacrifice our values for convenience."

"Tony Blair has squeezed values out of politics. Under New Labour, politics has become managerial and not inspirational. David Cameron has taken the same course, shunning conviction and desperate only to copy the value-free managerialism of Mr Blair's Number 10. Britain does not need a third managerial party. It needs a distinctive liberal democratic party. I believe that a modern Liberal Democrat party is better placed than any other to understand and address the most pressing challenges of our time:

"The overbearing centralisation of public life in Britain, which has led to a pervasive feeling of individual powerlessness, and to public services which still fail too many of the people they are supposed to serve; the absence of social justice, with persistent levels of poverty and social immobility, and a tax system still biased against the poor; and the disturbing effects of globalisation and the urgent need to rebuild confidence in the international rule of law; the threat of catastrophic environmental degradation.

"These are the urgent challenges of our times. If you agree with me on these key issues facing our country, you can donate now to help our campaigns at www.libdems.org.uk"