Annette Brooke Backs Party President Simon Hughes in Leadership Campaign

6.00.00pm GMT Thu 12th Jan 2006

Simon Hughes campaigning with Annette Brooke in April 2005

Commenting on the launch of Simon Hughes' leadership campaign, Annette Brooke MP said: "I am delighted to be giving Simon my support in this leadership challenge. He has 23 years of experience in Parliament. He has a passion and commitment to Liberal Democrat beliefs that I hold.

"He is a household name across the UK already, and only 16 months ago he was elected as president of our party by an overwhelming 70% of the members who voted."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Simon Hughes' campaign launch speech is below

Subject: SIMON HUGHES ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

PRESS RELEASE

At the launch of his campaign for leadership of the Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes will say:

Sixteen months ago Liberal Democrat members were asked to choose their President.

More than seven out of ten of those voting, from all parts of Britain, placed their trust in me.

I am proud to announce that I will be putting my name forward to those same members to vote for me to be the next Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Charles Kennedy's leadership has delivered our greatest election results in over 80 years.

Across Britain, a million more voters abandoned the Labour Government, rejected the Conservatives, and put their trust in us.

This record result was not the high water mark, but a stepping stone to greater success.

We can win many more votes and seats next time.

Our party made the right and courageous judgments on Iraq, on Europe and on global injustice. We have robustly defended civil liberties. We have consistently championed the environment.

We now have to demonstrate that we can make the right judgments over other issues which matter to the British people - their finances, their homes, their pensions, their security.

I was brought up in post-war Britain where the legacy of Lloyd George and Beveridge meant my family had the security of a decent health service and decent pensions. But quality public services must not mean an over-mighty state.

We have to be responsible.

I was taught from an early age that as a family and as a country we had to earn our way in the world. This is a lesson that the Liberal Democrats understand.

I look forward to working as Leader with the brightest, best and most creative people in British liberal politics to bring forward the policies fit for the new century.

I am ready to use my long parliamentary and campaigning experience to take the party forward with enthusiasm, ambition and passion.

My job is to lead a united and motivated party in the mainstream of British politics to greater success.

It is to encourage and enthuse the British public to join us.

I believe we can do it. I am ready to lead.

** ENDS **

NOTES TO EDITORS

The first 7 MPs to sign Simon's nomination paper are:

Annette Brooke

Tim Farron

Evan Harris

Paul Holmes

Mark Hunter

Steve Webb

Richard Younger-Ross

All 7 are not signing the nomination papers of any other candidate.