Simon Hughes Elected New President Of The Liberal Democrats

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Sep 2004

Simon Hughes, MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, was today elected by a large majority to be the next President of the Liberal Democrats. Simon Hughes, who stood against Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Lembit Opik MP in the all member election to become the next party president, polled 71% of the votes cast by Liberal Democrat members. Mr Hughes has been elected to serve for two years as Party President.

Mr Hughes said:- "It is an honour, privilege and pleasure to be elected as President of our great party. It is a particular pleasure to succeed my friend Lord Navnit Dholakia who has done exceptional work in broadening the reach and appeal of the party in his four years in office.

"Working with Charles Kennedy and Ming Campbell, my immediate aim as Party President will be to follow up our success in Brent and Leicester by helping Jody Dunn win the forthcoming Hartlepool by-election. I will then work flat out for a big increase in Liberal Democrat seats at the next general election, to increase our membership to overtake Labour's, and grow our party's resources, appeal and votes to make the party fit for the purpose of government.

"This week we are rightly celebrating British success at the Olympics.

"Liberals had golden days in the past. Then for a period, we were rewarded with no medals or with bronze.

"But times are changing now. Our sights are higher. Our aspirations are greater. Our potential for achievement is greater too.

"We are now winning silver. But in the years to come, nothing less than gold will do.

"My job as Party President is to ensure Liberal Democrats grow in numbers, grow in effectiveness and become the leading force in British politics.

"In support of Charles Kennedy across Great Britain, Jim Wallace in Scotland, Lembit Opik in Wales, and Chris Davies in the European Parliament, we will be a winning team to challenge Labour, Conservatives and nationalists in parliaments, assemblies, and councils across the land.

"We have already rebuilt the party of liberal democracy into a credible and winning force in many parts of Britain. I now want the Liberal Democrats to achieve across the UK what we have achieved locally in councils like Southwark, and in the parliament in Edinburgh.

"There will always be reasons - and good reasons - to ask people to vote against the other parties. But now Liberal Democrats provide positive reasons for people to vote for us.

"I will work tirelessly to make sure that, with Charles Kennedy at the helm, Liberal Democrats build the support for a fair, free and more open Britain with high quality public services.

"I want people to vote for us because on public services, environmental policy and on international issues, they see policies that will help deliver what we all want for ourselves and our families - a saner, safer, fairer world.

"It is now the time for the Liberal Democrats to show we are moving onward and upward to government."

Sandra Gidley MP, Simon Hughes' English campaign chair, said:- "We have the policies, we have the people and we now have a winning team to take us towards being a party of government at the next general election

Sir Archy Kirkwood MP, Simon Hughes' Scottish campaign co-chair, said:- "This is a personal tribute to Simon. But it is also great news for the party because he brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm and energy which will stand the party in great shape in the election campaigns ahead."

Chris Davies, Simon Hughes' Welsh campaign chair, said:- "Welsh Liberal Democrats will be delighted at Simon's election. He has been a warm friend and great supporter of Lib Dems in Wales. We will now have a great team with Simon as President and Lembit as Welsh Leader. We now look forward to building decisive election victories in Wales to add to our recent council gains in Cardiff, Swansea and Bridgend."

Ends

2004 Presidential election

Total Ballots issued: 72,868

Total Ballots returned: 34,479

Turnout: 47.3%

Simon Hughes 24,333 (71%) Lembit Opik 10,002 (29%) spoilt 144

Simon will take office on the last day of the Liberal Democrat Party Conference (23rd September) for a two-year period. Any individual may hold the office of President for at most two terms. Simon succeeds Lord Dholakia who comes to the end of his four-year period of office this month.