Menzies Campbell
Overview
Sir Walter Menzies "Ming" Campbell, CBE, QC
, MP
(icon ; born 22 May 1941) is a British
Liberal Democrat
politician and advocate
, and a retired sprinter
. He is the Member of Parliament
(MP) for North East Fife
, and was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2 March 2006 until 15 October 2007.
Campbell held the British record for the 100 metres sprint
from 1967 to 1974, having run the distance in 10.2 s. He captained the Great Britain athletics team in 1965 and 1966.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(icon ; born 22 May 1941) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrat can refer to:* Liberal Democrats, a UK political party* Liberal Democrats , an Italian political party* Liberal Democratic Party , a Japanese political party* Liberal Democrats , a Sudanese political party...
politician and advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
, and a retired sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
. He is the Member of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
(MP) for North East Fife
North East Fife (UK Parliament constituency)
North East Fife is a county constituency in Fife, Scotland, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom currently held by Sir Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats...
, and was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2 March 2006 until 15 October 2007.
Campbell held the British record for the 100 metres sprint
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
from 1967 to 1974, having run the distance in 10.2 s. He captained the Great Britain athletics team in 1965 and 1966.
Quotations
I have done my best to fulfil my responsibility to him and to the party in circumstances which were difficult for everyone ... It has been an enormously difficult time and there have been huge conflicts of loyalty. We have to accept the sincerity of intention of people in what it was they tried to do.
On Charles Kennedy, who resigned as Liberal Democrat leader after revealing his treatment for alcoholism.
Under my leadership the Liberal Democrats would not be making polite interjections from the sidelines, we would be hammering on the doors of power.
Birmingham Post, 21 January 2006