Last chance to vote in the Liberal Democrat Leadership Election

8.00.00am GMT Fri 24th Feb 2006

The election for the new leader of the Liberal Democrats will close at midday on 1st March. So if you have not yet returned your ballot paper, post it as soon as possible to the return address at the foot of the ballot paper. The count and declaration will take place the following day, 2nd March.

Enclosed below are 500 word statements from each of the candidates (listed in alphabetical chosen order) and you can also read more from them at their websites:

http://www.campbellcampaign.org/

http://www.simonhughesforleader.com/

http://www.chris2win.org/

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MENZIES CAMPBELL MP

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Dear Colleague,

I would like to ask for one moment of your time. In a matter of days the outcome of the leadership of our Party will be decided.

It will be decided by you and every vote will count.

Before you do vote let me tell you a little about me and my aspirations.

I am serious about my politics, and so is this party. Always working hard - as an Olympic athlete, as a Scottish lawyer, as a National politician.

It takes hard work to win. I know. When I was first selected to be the parliamentary candidate in North East Fife we were in fourth place. A decade and three elections later we won the seat, and have held it with increasing majorities at every subsequent election.

During this campaign for the leadership I have travelled thousands of miles, attended over a 100 different events and met thousands of party members.

I relish campaigning. And I am passionate about our party.

As our fabulous victory at Dunfermline and West Fife showed there should be no limits to our ambitions and our aspirations.

Now is the time to demonstrate our determination, professionalism and resolution.

In local councils across Britain we have shown the capacity to make good decisions in government. We must also show that same clarity and toughness in Westminster. We must not allow our opponents to squeeze us into a peripheral role in British politics.

Unlike Labour and the Conservatives, we do not need to reinvent ourselves.

We must be the party of ideas, to re-awaken our stale politics and make the twenty first century the liberal century. We have the opportunity to make our politics and our country fairer, greener and more democratic.

This is why choosing our next leader is so important.

Leadership is about teamwork. The majority of Liberal Democrat MPs, as well as established party figures like Paddy Ashdown, Shirley Williams and David Steel, support my candidature. If elected, I want to use my experience, my authority, my energy, to work with you, campaign alongside you, as part of a formidable team.

A leader for every member.

Leading a party where every member feels proud. Confident we will achieve our ambitions in the future. Attracting new supporters who are inspired by our political ideals. Open to new ideas.

Trust me with your first preference vote and I promise to work hard to shape our future.

Yours faithfully,

Ming Campbell MP

PS. Please remember to vote before the ballot closes on 1 March.

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SIMON HUGHES

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Dear Friends,

At the end of the leadership campaign, our party stands in much better shape than the doubters thought possible.

Party members across Britain have told me how much they have enjoyed the chance to debate our core values and how we can put them into practice. And our superb result in Dunfermline has reminded those outside the party that we remain a formidable fighting force.

Now we must choose a leader to build on these successes. And I want to thank the thousands of party members who have told me that they want me to be that leader.

A leader who will lead by example, energetically campaigning up and down the country over the years up to the General Election and well beyond.

A leader who combines decades of experience of Westminster, where the party leader has to perform week in, week out, with a knowledge and love of our party in the country.

A leader whose energy can be concentrated on winning new votes and new seats, not being tied down by the Tories defending a marginal seat.

I am uniquely placed to provide that leadership.

During the campaign, a poll for the Guardian found that I was streets ahead among voters as the leadership candidate best placed to revive the fortunes of our party. And only last week a poll for the Sunday Times put me well ahead among Liberal Democrat voters as the strongest candidate. These are the voters who will decide the next election and already they are making their views clear.

I want to lead our party so that we can win power and help shape our country and the wider world, just as we are doing so effectively in Scotland. My priorities for power are clear.

First, a freer Britain, where we are proud to stand up for the liberties of the individual against an over-mighty state. Our next manifesto should contain a pledge to repeal the Identity Cards legislation and other laws given bogus justification by the so-called "war against terror".

Second, a greener Britain, where we take radical action on the biggest issue facing our planet. I was campaigning on the environment before David Cameron knew how to spell the word, and we need a leader with a proven track record to contrast with the Tories' shallow conversion to the issue.

Third, a fairer Britain in a fairer world. This means tackling social injustice and inequality at home and abroad, so as to truly set people free.

A fairer Britain also requires a fairer voting system producing a truly representative Parliament. My priority after the next General Election will not be personal advancement or a ministerial limousine. It will be to secure the electoral reform that justice demands and that will guarantee a powerful say for our party for decades to come.

If you share my vision, I ask you to give me your vote in this leadership election.

With best wishes,

Simon

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CHRIS HUHNE

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ideas * leadership * experience

http://www.chris2win.org.uk

In this message:

• Personal message from Chris

• Chris's Manifesto sets the Agenda

• We're backing Chris2Win

• Members and Media Back Huhne

• Enthusiastic to Lead from Day One

PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM CHRIS

First of all, thank you!

I was described as a 'dark green horse' at the beginning of this leadership campaign but I've been overwhelmed by the warm welcome and growing support I've received from party members all over the country.

My record of leadership outside Westminster - as a communicator, economist, entrepreneur and policymaker - has been seen as a strength that will contrast well with David Cameron's lightweight leadership.

I can take the fight to Gordon Brown on Britain's economic prospects, its record on green issues and on social justice.

Willie Rennie's seismic victory in Dunfermline shows that where we work, we win. We must prove in May that we are the real opposition to the Tories in the shires and to Labour in the cities of Britain. We are the only truly national party. My job will be to lead us into power, for as long as it takes, and as long as you'll back me.

Chris

CHRIS'S MANIFESTO SETS THE AGENDA

On green taxation, the future of Iraq and Trident, civil liberties and on taking the poorest out of taxation, Chris has set the agenda during this campaign. His solid grasp of economics means he can deal with challenges from other parties. As Lord Steel said on Friday:

"Chris Huhne, unlike me, Paddy Ashdown and Charles Kennedy, is an expert in economics who can tackle Gordon Brown if he is made Prime Minister."

For a copy of Chris's forward-thinking manifesto, visit http://www.chris2win.org.uk

WE'RE BACKING CHRIS2WIN

What do Sandi Toksvig, Claire Rayner, Rabbi Julia Neuberger, Rosie Boycott, Jonathan Fryer and Clement Freud have in common with 37 Lib Dem parliamentarians? They're all backing Chris for leader.

The latest MPs to join Chris's original seven nominators are John Leech, Mark Williams and Roger Williams. They join 20 Lib Dem peers, three Lib Dem Euro MPs and five Members of the Scottish Parliament.

See http://www.chris2win.org.uk/pages/supporterslist.html for details.

MEMBERS AND MEDIA BACK HUHNE

Leading media pundits along with the only poll of Lib Dem members* in the campaign so far say Chris can win. (*Times/YouGov 4-7 February 2006).

The Independent on Sunday and Observer have called on party members to vote for Chris:

"The person best placed to see off David Cameron is Chris Huhne. David Cameron's claim to represent [liberalism] will look most inauthentic next to Chris Huhne, the genuine article." - Leader, The Observer, 12 February

ENTHUSIASTIC TO LEAD FROM DAY ONE

Our Party is always at its best when it makes the bold choice for the future. Paddy Ashdown was the less experienced candidate when elected Leader in 1988 - but what a great choice he was.

Together we can now make another great choice - please give your first preference to Chris Huhne.