1 hour ago Why does Reform seem unassailable? Because this is party conference season, when politicos always lose the plot | Simon Jenkins

They wrote off Margaret Thatcher in 1981 when the SDP – like Reform today – was ascendant. They were wrong about her; they could also be about StarmerParty conference time is when British politics goes berserk. Leaders soar and crash in a morass of cliches. Polls go mad and cataclysm always delivers the best copy.Thus, back in 1981, Margaret Thatcher was at her Blackpool conference, two years into office. Brixton was rioting, inflation was 11% and the Tories were polling at 23%. The Labour opposition was faring as badly, also at 23%. Meanwhile, a third force, the Social Democratic party (SDP), in alliance with the Liberals, was running at more than 50% and dominating the news. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago STEPHEN DAISLEY: Menzies Campbell belonged to an age in which principles were held fiercely but expressed with courtesy, grace and humour

Menzies Campbell was in the noble tradition of Scottish Liberalism. In tone, he belonged to an earlier political age, one in which principles were held fiercely.

Politics

7 d. ago Menzies Campbell: the ‘Flying Scotsman’ who led the Liberal Democrats from the front

Olympic sprinter, barrister and long-serving MP, Campbell became a respected elder statesman of the Liberal Democrats, known for his principled stance on foreign affairs and quiet authority in Westminster

Politics

7 d. ago Tributes pour in for 'guiding light' and former Lib Dem leader, Lord Menzies Campbell

The 84-year-old, known as Ming, had been an Olympic sprinter and a lawyer before entering politics and was hailed by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton

Politics

7 d. ago Sir Menzies Campbell in his own words: Here are 11 memorable quotes from the former Lib Dem leader

The Scottish politician was never short of insighful comment.

Politics

7 d. ago Lord Ming Campbell was once dubbed 'fastest white man on earth' in OJ Simpson race

Prior to entering politics, Menzies Campbell was a sprinter who was once dubbed 'the fastest white man on the planet' and even managed to beat OJ Simpson in a race

Events

7 d. ago Menzies Campbell: The formidable Liberal Democrats force known as 'Ming' who was 'hooked' on Westminster

Walter Menzies “Ming” Campbell, who has died at the age of 84, was born on May 22, 1941 in Glasgow.

Politics

7 d. ago Menzies Campbell, former Liberal Democrat leader, dies at 84

Campbell was North East Fife MP for nearly three decades and was made a peer, and once held UK 100m recordMenzies Campbell, the long-serving Liberal Democrat MP who led the party for 18 months, has died aged 84, his family have said.Lord Campbell, usually known as Ming, died in London after a period of respite care, his grandson Gregor Grant-Suttie said in a statement. He had spent some of his final days watching last weekend’s Lib Dem conference. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Lord Menzies Campbell: Former Lib Dem leader and Olympic sprinter Ming Campbell dies aged 84

Tributes have been paid to the former leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Events

8 d. ago Menzies Campbell: Liberal Democrat leader ousted as ‘too old’

As the party’s foreign affairs spokesman he led opposition to Tony Blair’s invasion of Iraq.

Politics

8 d. ago Former Lib Dem leader & Scottish MP Sir Menzies Campbell dies aged 84

FORMER Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has died aged 84. The former Scots MP, who was also known as Ming, represented North East Fife from 1987 until 2015. He led the party from 2006 to 2007. The political heavyweight also had a stunning career in sport, representing Britain at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. His...

Events

2 w. ago Democrats dig their heels in on spending as Republicans leave Washington ahead of a government shutdown

Republicans are betting that they can force Democrats into submission like they did in March. Eric Garcia writes how Democrats want to get a policy win and show their supporters they can actually fight

Politics

3 w. ago Trump administration could be forced to hand over Epstein financial documents under top Democrat’s bill

Ron Wyden’s years-long investigation following the money in Epstein’s trafficking scheme takes aim at the Treasury Department

Politics

4 w. ago RFK Jr becomes an unlikely great uniter as Democrats and Republicans join forces to pounce on his pseudoscience

Republicans, including leadership, mounted a show of force against a Trump Cabinet secretary. But he still seemed to brush it off, writes John Bowden

Politics