Lembit hits back over presidential race

Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik today hit back at claims that he is losing the race to become the next president of the Liberal Democrats, and dared members to vote for him.

Reports suggested that a "Stop Lembit" campaign to block the Mid Wales MP from the key role has succeeded and that he has won the backing of only six Lib Dem MPs – less than a 10th of the total.

One report claimed that senior party figures had said his highly publicised and subsequently failed relationships with the weather forecaster Sian Lloyd and Gabriela Irimia, one half of the Cheeky Girls, had embarrassed the party, not least its leader, Nick Clegg.

But Mr Opik today challenged party members to "change up a gear" by supporting him for president and rejecting the "negative campaign" launched by his opponents.

"The enemy of the Liberal Democrats is conventionalism and conservatism. Everyone knows I'm neither conventional nor conservative," he said.

"My national profile and my total adherence to liberal principles means I stand out in a clear and lively way. That's why I was awarded the Govnet UK Alternative Politician of the Year Award this week. That's why I'm standing for president – to breath the same life and soul into our party.

"The challenge to the membership is this: if a Lib Dem Party promoting itself in clear, bold primary colours scares you, then don't vote for me. But if you dare take our story, our image, our vision to the citizens in refreshing and colourful, inspired ways, then voting for me is a vote for exactly that approach."

The MP said that if there was a conspiracy against him it amounted to a "conspiracy of mediocrity by people who don't understand how I reach beyond the normal political barricades to real people in real homes living real lives".

He said he had always opposed conspiracies in the party and that was why he backed Charles Kennedy to the end and why he had defended Sir Menzies Campbell in the face of a whispering campaign against him.

By London Editor John Hipwood