Richard Baum

Congratulations to our new leader Nick Clegg. His victory sets the party up well for the next few years, and we have a dynamic, committed and passionate young leader who I have no doubt will take the party onwards in the future.

The campaign was fought with honour and dignity by both Nick and Chris Huhne, and the margin of victory (just 511 votes out of 40,000 cast) shows I think just how strong both candidates were. I hope that Nick can find a big job for Chris Huhne in his shadow cabinet team, and that Chris plays a major supporting role within our party in the coming years.

I had the honour of meeting both Nick and Chris in person a few weeks ago, and I came out in favour of Nick Clegg then. Whilst both men persuaded me that they grasped the agenda and had big ideas for the future, it was Nick Clegg whose charisma and passion won the day for me then. Now his job will be to win the hearts and minds of the people of the UK in the same way.

I think our party has done as well as it could have done in the campaign. Competitions between people from the same party are always fraught with dangers – highlighting internal divisions and concentrating on what divides not what unites. But we have shown that we are not a party split by massive ideological entrenchments. We aren’t the Tories with their European divisions. We aren’t Labour with public sector reform strife. We are a united party where it counts.

The criticisms meted out during the campaign that both candidates were so similar on policy both missed the truth and missed the point. There are differences, of course there are. No two people in the world think the same about everything, let alone two people as intelligent and experienced in these things as Nick and Chris. There weren’t many differences, but why would there be in two leading lights from the same party? It shouldn’t matter. What should matter is the quality of debate and ideas. Crucially, where these differences existed, both sides had merits they were argued out rationally. Now we have a new leader to take these issues forward.

I am pleased Nick Clegg won. I’d have been happy with Chris Huhne as well, but I publicly backed Nick Clegg and it’s nice when I make the popular choice! In fact, the margin of vistory was so tight that it might’ve been my endorsement that did it!

I doubt it though. His campaign had reason enough to win without relying on me, thank God. The campaign has been a success, but the real work starts today if his leadership is to be as successful.

Rick