Campbell says his age is an asset

By Tim Castle

BRIGHTON (Reuters) - Menzies Campbell took aim at his rival Labour and Conservative leaders on Thursday and rejected accusations he was too old for the job, in a defiant closing speech at the Liberal Democrat conference.

Delegates responded with a five-minute standing ovation for "Ming" Campbell, who has been under pressure throughout the annual meeting from constant media sniping about his age and performance.

He declared he would lead his party into the next election with "energy, ambition and determination."

He would make a virtue of his 66 years, "because with age comes experience, with experience comes judgement."

"If military action is proposed against Iran, who should the British people trust to stand up to George Bush," he asked.

"Should they trust the Labour and Conservative MPs who voted for the war in Iraq? Or should they trust the Liberal Democrats who stood -- steadfast -- against the tragic folly of that decision?"

Party aides said the speech was Campbell's answer to media commentators who have spent much of the conference pondering who might succeed him, despite a week of policy decisions on the environment, taxation, local government and inequality.

Potential rivals among his shadow cabinet spent much of the week loyally denying there was any vacancy at the top of the party.