The increasingly accepted wisdom in Parliament is that Lib Dem grandee
Ming Campbell orchestrated the latest attempt to oust Charlie Kennedy.
Campbell makes no secret of the fact that he regrets not running for the leadership when Kennedy was elected. But his regret has never been strong enough for him to stand against Kennedy after either of the general elections he has fought - the one time every four or five years when the leader must be re-elected.
The silver-haired Glasgow don tends to remind activists of his days as an Olympic sprinter any time the boy Charlie appears in public looking tired and emotional.
With this latest story, a rumour has been circulating in the Lib Dems’ private Internet conferences that the latest crisis was sparked by Kennedy arriving at a function in Newcastle “unable to fulfil the engagement” - code for pissed as a newt. No Lib Dem in Newcastle has stepped forward to confirm the rumour - so from where did it originate?
Regardless of the truth behind the rumours, Campbell’s attempted palace coup has failed and Lib Dems have to ask themselves what is the punismhment that should be meted out to Ming for his treason? Perhaps there’s only room for one Scot on that front bench.
recessmonkey@gmail.com
editor[at]recessmonkey.com
Loading ...
Turning up pissed in Newcastle. Isn’t that the same as taking Coal to Newcastle?
If I had to lead the LDs I too would find solace in a couple of bottles of Scotch a day.
Political Penn said this on December 15th, 2005 at 2:25 pm
The Lib Dems “private Internet conferences” as I recall them are a curious mix of the mad, the bad, the mad, and the mad.
The Newcastle theory probably came from one of the legion of people who each try to demonstrate they’re closer to the leadership than everyone else. There is a small group of predominantly London based activists who claim to be able to read the minds of everyone of Lib Dem shadow cabinet level and above.
In fact, as I understand it, it’s absolutely true that Donald was taken ill while Charles was on his way to Newcastle.
If some idiot activists are going to cry “drunk!” every time Donald gets an infant illness then I feel that says rather more about the activists in question, rather than the leadership.
As for Ming - yes, well, he who wields the dagger loses the crown.
Rob F said this on December 16th, 2005 at 1:24 am
As one of the organisers of the Kennedy Newcastle visit, I can confirm the following:
Kennedy set off from Kings Cross on his Newcastle visit but left the train at Peterborough to return home after Donald was taken ill. Understandably, the family didn’t want to alert a media frenzy and the reason was downplayed.
As someone with some links to frontbenchers, my view of the Ming situation is somewhat different: a certain leadership hopeful has been seeking to damage the prospects of his rivals by briefing against them, as well as against Kennedy. Ming may not be entirely without blame in this matter but he is far from being the ringleader.
Newcastle Lib Dem said this on December 22nd, 2005 at 11:10 am