Robinson on ITV and radio tribute to Ming Campbell

11.58.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 17th Oct 2007

Stephen Robinson thanks Sir Menzies Campbell and looks ahead to leadership election

Chelmsford Lib Dem candidate Stephen Robinson has been busy in the media in the last week. On Thursday he appeared on ITV's "Anglia Late Edition", covering a range of political topics, and on Tuesday on BBC Essex's lunchtime programme (and in the local press) he paid tribute to Sir Menzies Campbell.

On ITV one of the topics was the Chancellor's "Pre Budget Report". Mr Robinson commented that it was odd that Labour and the Conservatives should talk about tax cuts for the seriously rich, while ignoring the hard-pressed majority of the population who will see council tax bills rise by double the rate of inflation for at least the next three years. (You can see the panel interview via the link at the end of this page.)

On BBC Essex, Mr Robinson said that, as Liberal Democrat leader, Menzies Campbell was clearly a man of substance in stark contrast to the style and spin of Cameron and Brown.

His leadership did not stop the Lib Dems from winning five seats in May's Chelmsford council election or the Broomfield by-election in September. As a result, all Chelmsford Councillors are either Lib Dem or Conservative. However, Sir Menzies had decided that constant media questioning about leadership was restricting further progress by the party.

Mr Robinson added that the Liberal Democrats has a wide range of talented MPs and can now look forward to choosing a new leader from amongst them, and go on to win Chelmsford and other seats at the General Election.

Chris Huhne has formally launched his campaign for the leadership (www.chris2win.org) and Nick Clegg will do so on Friday: (www.nickclegg.com).

Related Link:

Watch ITV-Anglia Late Edition programme with Stephen Robinson here.