It must be Ming but it must not be a coronation

10.00.00pm GMT Sun 8th Jan 2006

Sir Menzies Campbell campaigning in Birmingham during the General Election

Following on from Charles' resignation I am coming out in favour of Sir Menzies (Ming) Campbell to become the next Liberal Democrat Leader. However I do think we absolutely need a contest, many members are upset at the way Charles resigned and now want (and deserve) a say on who should be the next Leader.

I am backing Ming for a number of reasons, I expect I will go into more detail later but I believe he is the best candidate for us at this time, he has the gravitas, the experience and the ability. He will also shore up the more conservative wing of British politics for us in a way a number of our other Parliamentarians could not do.