Ming the merciless attacks rivals
The veteran also criticised Mr Blair's handling of the crisis in the Middle East
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Sunday, 04, Mar 2007 07:54
Sir Menzies Campbell has launched a scathing attack on his main rivals in a speech at the Liberal Democrats spring conference.
The Lib Dem leader questioned if chancellor Gordon Brown had the "courage" to take Britain in a new direction if as expected he becomes the country's next prime minister.
And he urged Conservative leader David Cameron to admit his "guilty secret" of being an inexperienced "Tory boy".
The 65-year-old also likened Tony Blair's quest for a legacy to running around in "a supermarket with two minutes to go to closing time".
Sir Menzies, whose own future as leader is uncertain, received a four-minute standing ovation from his party at the venue in Harrogate.
On the final day of the conference, he immediately threw down the gauntlet to the men he is set to face at the next general election by comparing Mr Blair to Victoria Beckham.
"You know, a day never passes now without Tony Blair offering us some new gift wrapped solution," Sir Menzies said.
"A global energy crisis - don't worry, just before I go there's time to buy a new set of nuclear power stations."
He added: "The prime minister is hunting for his place in history. He's like a man in a supermarket with two minutes to go to closing time.
"He's doing it with such energy that it would make Victoria Beckham look restrained. His frenzy of activity is designed to obscure a record of failure."
He then tore into Tory leader Mr Cameron by mocking his background and allegations of drug taking at Eton.
"And while Tony [Blair] has been concentrating on his legacy, Dave's been ducking and weaving," Sir Menzies said.
"He wants to keep his past private. Well, I can understand that. If I had his past I'd want to keep it private too. Come on Dave - it's time to come clean. Admit your guilty secret.
"In your youth, you were a Tory boy and your heroes were Michael Howard, Norman Lamont and John Selwyn Gummer. You know, with pin ups like that, frankly, I'd want to keep my past private too."
Sir Menzies then dismissed chancellor Brown's abilities as prime minister.
He said: "Why on earth should we believe that Britain will be better governed if he moves from No 11 Downing Street to No 10?"
"Britain needs a government that is prepared to reduce inequality. Britain needs a government that will uphold the rule of law.
"Britain needs a government that will preserve our traditional freedoms. Britain needs a government that will take on the challenge of climate change.
"And Britain needs a government that will restore our international reputation. The question is - can Gordon Brown meet that challenge? Does he have the courage to take Britain in a new direction?"
Sir Menzies ended by posing five challenges to Mr Brown of scrapping identity cards, tackling climate change, addressing the needs of poverty-stricken families, allowing local councils to make their own decisions, and rebalancing Britain's relationship with America.